Wal-Mart announced today that it’s closing its Juneau location, along with 154 other stores across the country. The location will operate with limited hours for the rest of the month and shutdown Feb. 5.
The Juneau Wal-Mart employs about 180 people full- and part-time. Delia Garcia, a Wal-Mart corporate rep, said the company decided to close the stores based on financial performance, the cost of doing business and plans for strategic growth.
“That’s really, as we look at all of the stores, the criteria that we assigned. Juneau just resulted on the list of closures,” said Garcia.
Garcia said Wal-Mart associates who have been employed for at least a year could qualify for a 60-day severance package. First, the company will try to find transfer opportunities.
“Juneau is in a unique circumstance in that there aren’t other Wal-Marts relatively close by as you might find in other locations that are being closed,” Garcia said. “That’s why we want to make sure our employees are prepared for potential opportunities elsewhere in working with them on preparing for that and being aware what options are available for them.”
There are 12 Wal-Marts in Alaska that will remain open. Nationally, the closings could affect about 10,000 employees.
Despite the potential layoffs, Wal-Mart plans to open around 240 new stores in the U.S.
