Final days before Walmart closes location for good as officials spar over reason (2024)

WALMART has announced that its shutting down one of its locations, and officials are at odds when speculating on the reason why.

The retailer, Walmart is shutting down its Colfax Avenue location in Aurora, Colorado, on June 7, and many are worried about the closure.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman took to Facebook to note that crime could be a factor in the retailer's decision.

"I'm disappointed that they would not give me an answer as to why the store was closing, although I know that the Colfax and Havana area is the most difficult area in the city of Aurora in terms of crime," he wrote on a Facebook post.

In a different post, he went on to compare Walmart with another local grocery store.

"A key difference between Lowe's Mercado and Walmart's Neighborhood Market is that Walmart has a reputation for being tolerant of shoplifting while Lowe's Mercado's policies don't tolerate it," he wrote.

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However, Senator Rhonda Fields, said she had never seen that behavior in action when visiting the store herself.

“When I go into the store, I don't see people stealing,” Fields told local ABC affiliate KMGH-TV.

“So to give the impression that people in this neighborhood steal and they're closing because of theft is something that I have not been able to verify.”

A Walmart spokesperson revealed there were multiple causes for the closure, but did not list crime as one of them.

“There is no single cause for why a store closes and our decision is based on several factors, including historic and current financial performance, and is in line with the threshold that guides our strategy to close underperforming locations,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement

Despite the reasoning, Fields believes this could create a huge issue for the neighborhood.

“This is going to devastate the community, in my view, because this Walmart was like a lifeline,” said Fields.

Some customers are hoping another grocery store can come in to replace Walmart.

“Hopefully, we can come up with a new plan to open a similar store for this area,” Kay Abdul, a local truck driver told the station.

OTHER GROCERY STORE CLOSURES

Walmart is not the only grocery store that is closing its doors.

AHy-Veelocation in Ceder Rapids,Iowa has announced that its shutting down, causing massive outrage.

Community members have begun protesting the closure, claiming the town would become a food desert if it left.

Shoppers were seen holding signs that said "You deserted us," and "Boycott Hy-vee" in front of the Oakland Road location.

“By educating our entire community of Cedar Rapids we’re hoping more people will show up for those who are directly impacted by the first avenue Hy-Vee closure,” Angelina Ramirez, the vice president of Advocates for Social for Justice, told local ABC affiliateKCRG.

As a compromise, Hy-Vee announced that it will be providing a shuttle service from its closed-down location until September 1.

The grocery store also added that it will continue to offer free pharmacy deliveries as well as grocery deliveries to those who live within a mile of the closed location.

However, protesters are still not happy with the change.

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Shoppers are asking for the store to stay open until September, pay activists to canvas the area, and guarantee another grocery store will replace the Hy-Vee store.

The grocery store has not commented on the group's recent demands.