What are your opinions on Walmart locations closing down permanently in Chicago locations due to massive theft and looting?

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

https://youtu.be/wnLXFQ2gZaU


Is it a big deal? Or not?

Updates

+1 y

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[Katie1964]

Maybe the people in the locations shouldn't have been stealing. You can't blame the business for cutting their losses.

[LazerBean]

Good for them.

[razelove]

They'll be replaced by Loomis or Well's Fargo doing retail with armored trucks. It isn't like anyone will starve or not have clothes, they'll just have an insanely high mark-up as the security will be higher, logistics more expensive, and the profit margin higher to be worth it to open up more businesses that fill in that gap.

Like I remember going to a restaurant in a really hood area in St. Louis that had nothing but concrete and bullet proof glass for their shop front. It looked like they were doing good business, you called in your order, paid for your food and left.

No matter how sketchy I've seen other places in other cities, none of them had the business model of a straight up bank drive through. That stuck with me and seemed pretty smart.

[OlderAndWiser]

WITF did the far left expect to happen when they constantly derided law enforcement and those who want to uphold the rule of law?

[Anonymous]

I grew up poor in a poor, very integrated, inner city neighborhood in the northeast US. We had three grocery stores, two pharmacies, two branch banks and lots of other stores. We all may have been poor and occasionally visited to pawn shop for food money, but we all were honest hard working people. Now, a few decades later, all that is gone. I live a thousand miles away, but I virtually "visited" my old neighborhood thanks to Google Earth. It became one of the highest crime areas in the city. (I listen to an internet radio station there so I hear the local news.) There is nothing I recognize. The groceries, banks, pharmacies including the buildings are all gone. Half, maybe more, of the wooden houses are now empty lots. No rational human being will maintain a business in an area where it's impossible to make a profit and where the employees are in danger.

If the city of Chicago or Portland or wherever have issues with stores in high crime areas closing, maybe they should buy those stores snd operate them. Let's see how long they can operate at a loss while the employees are assaulted or killed.

When a city turns a blind eye to crime, the politicians and voters shouldn't expect there to be no repercussions. When you change the rules to favor thieft and violence, the true victims will eliminate their exposure and vacate the area. So it's no surprise Walmart, Walgreens or Target are leaving.

[ManOnFire]

Walmart's been closing stores in many locations. I saw reports awhile ago about a store they're closing in NYC that a lot of people depend on because it's easy for them to get to by foot. They also closed stores in Minnesota and Washington state. All for the same reasons that they decline to talk about but what we all know: theft. As you said.

But with all the money Walmart makes up the wazoo, they should just start recruiting a serious loss prevention force inside and outside the stores, not just the employees at the door who check your receipt on the way out. That does nothing.

[Jamie05rhs]

No, because that will just attract lawsuits from the hoodlums when they try to fight the security guards and get injured.
It's not worth it.

[ManOnFire]

@Jamie05rhs Mmmmm. Not sure.

[Dargil]

Arming up for the inevitable home invasions. They believe they deserve your flat-screen TV. If you own a home or have a residence at ground level, keep your garage closed at all times, block the garage door's windows and pull your drapes. Otherwise, it's:
"Thank you for shopping at my Walmart".

As society and the economy collapse, there will be anarchy and they will be coming for your stuff. They think they are entitled to it.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Our local Walmart Super Center is located in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, I have seen for many years that they sell pop soda that says Sam's Club… One time I asked this greeter if our Walmart was being bought by Sam's Club, and she totally brushed my question off of her shoulder… But yet they still sell Sam's Club… So we got to put two and two together... Also, if they go out of Business then we could get a medical taxi cab to Brownsville, Pa but the thing is... I'm not sure if the medical taxi transports clients to Brownsville, Pa, cause that's kind of far.

[Uannoyme]

If nothing is being done to the criminals, what are they supposed to do? This is what happens when you act like criminals are victims and law abiding good people are criminals. I feel sorry for the people in those areas that didn't vote for this nonsense, maybe they will leave.

[WindAtMyBack]

This isn't new. Businesses have always stayed away from places that were dangerous or have high loss. It's just not worth it.

I remember in the 80s a lot of pizza delivery places refused to take orders from the projects. It wasn't about the loss, it was dangerous for the drivers to go there at night. So they refused to take delivery orders to the projects.

For any type of delivery, it can potentially be dangerous, especially at night.

[BeMuse]

Black people did it to themselves. Profit margins in grocery stores are roughly 2% under normal circumstances. It's a volume business. There isn't much profit in it. When you have a bunch of BLM commies smashing shit up and stealing everything, then it is a losing proposition so you just cut your loses and let Black people starve to death.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IQK7v0ztGo

[BeMuse]

It's not like White people didn't warn Black people this would happen if they burnt down their own cities. You can go back to 2020 and find posts of me saying you're just destroying your own jobs. Eventually you will not have grocery stores and then where will you eat? Then all the commies tried to gas light me with their racist bigot propaganda for telling them the truth. All I have to say is I told you so. hahahahahaha!

[exitseven]

Elections have consequences. They vore these people in and then wonder why the city is like Beirut on a Saturday night. Mayor Lightfoot is gone but the guy they elected is just as bad if not worse, What do they think will happen when liberal DAs don't prosecute shoplifting, drug dealing, assaults or riots. You just get more. Walmart won't be the last store to get out of Dodge. Because as Jim Croce said, The Southside of Chicago is the baddest part of town.

[Anonymous]

Chain stores like Walmart carry insurance that covers loss from looting or civil unrest. The city incentivized the opening of these stores in poor underserved areas. It makes local alderman look good to their voters. Problem is, these areas couldn’t economically sustain those stores, plus you always get a higher rate of shoplifting in poor areas. They lost money from the start. Walmart couldn’t turn a profit, so they’re closing their doors. Simple economics.

[Jamie05rhs]

How can you sell something if it's out of stock because they all got stolen?

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs I highly doubt that was the case on a day to day basis. Those stores were never profitable from the beginning. I know it’s more fun to use the closure to further your own narrative though.

[Jamie05rhs]

Haha. I can see that you're a closed-minded ideologue, since you're not willing to consider basic logic.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs By Walmarts own admission, the stores always struggled in those markets. If they aren’t claiming looting or theft is the primary reason for the closures, then why are you? What “basic logic” are you using here? You’re pushing your own narrative.

[Jamie05rhs]

Of course they always struggled in those markets. But they didn't close until now.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs Yes, they tried different strategies to make the locations profitable but nothing worked, so they closed. A company like Walmart can afford to absorb losses but eventually they will give up on that initial investment they made in those locations. Like I said, it’s simple economics.

[Jamie05rhs]

Walmart doesn't close stores unless things get REALLY bad.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs Their retail losses doubled over time at those locations. You mix poor locations with losses and competition from online retail and stores are going to close. It’s not just the Chicago area losing stores either. It’s the nature of the business climate right now. More stores will probably be lost.

[Jamie05rhs]

Why do you not acknowledge the theft problem?

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs I did. Reread my original post. Higher rates of shoplifting go hand in hand with poor neighborhoods and losses from looting are covered by insurance. You didn’t hear it because I’m not entirely echoing your narrative.

[Jamie05rhs]

And yet these stores were open several years before the riots and looting began.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs Yes and those stores were operating at a loss for years prior to that as well. Just out of curiosity, how much of the stores losses were due to theft? Just checking to see if you know what you’re talking about. I’m leaning towards not.

[Jamie05rhs]

It's funny how you're presenting yourself as some expert on the subject. For all we know, you've never even been inside of a Walmart.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs I’m just going by Walmart’s own statements. If you think they’re lying, I’m just curious what evidence you’re basing that opinion on. When you dodged the question, I knew you had no fact based argument and were just pushing your own narrative about the city. Do you even live here?

[Jamie05rhs]

So now you're claiming to live in Chicago. That's quite laughable.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs Born and raised here. I’m living in Orland Park just outside the city because it’s closer to my job. Why would my place of residence be “laughable”?

[Jamie05rhs]

Where did you grow up?

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs Englewood

[Jamie05rhs]

Unlikely.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jamie05rhs It’s even more unlikely I would be confused about where I was born but whatever. It’s not important.

[LiamJHayden]

Businesses exist to make a profit for the owner (s). Losses eventually lead to failure. When those losses are the result of a failure of the political authorities to maintain law and order, it is most wise to move operations to location where the political leaders so enforce the laws.

[SaoirseS]

It's a business decision. No business can survive staying in a location where it experiences constant looting and loss. Communities that allow this to happen and do nothing hurt no one but themselves.

[Pterodon]

Not just Chicago but ALL locations in Portland. It was announced today. I think it’s great. The loss of jobs and tax revenue might be what it takes to prove democrats don’t know what they’re doing. Rite Aid is another that is leaving progressive blue cities as is Whole Foods and Walgreens

[Adaeva]

It may not be permanent. If Chicago does what is needed, they will reopen.

[OddBeMe]

Tale of Two Cities and the French Revolution should tell the owners of Walmart to stop lobbying for tax breaks and start giving more to charities for the poor.

If not morally, just for business reasons.

[humanearth]

About time, maybe Mom and Pop shops would make a return.

Walmart killed many small local businesses

[Avicenna]

Very bad and unfortunate for law-abiding residents who have fewer shopping options now.

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't live in Chicago so I could care less. They brought on themselves. They voted for black nationalism, they got it

[Pete671]

I work at ASDA (now owned by the Issa brothers), if the store is not viable it gets shut down, just modern business,,,

[Jamie05rhs]

Darrell Issa?

[Pete671]

@Jamie05rhs I don't know, there are two brothers though,,,

[Pete671]

update - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohsin_and_Zuber_Issa

[bolverk]

Honestly cannot blame them, after all said and done they are not in business to make a loss.

[gorydetails]

Good. It's time that people feel the pain from voting for these leftist politicians.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Chicago deserve it. The people in that city refuse to elect serious and responsible leadership.

[Anonymous]

Walmart are a corporation, if they are losing money they will pull out.

[Anonymous]

It’s so racist. It’s like how are people supposed to be shoplifting now when they gotta be like going all the way to another neighborhood? It’s like wasn’t this supposed to be MLK’s dream like?

[Anonymous]

When we allow shit people to do shit things we lose.
Until we start pushing back with violence, it will never stop.

[Lyndsielee666]

It’s happening where I live too 😂

[Andres77]

They got what they wanted and deserved

[AsaKyo]

I don't live there so whatever

[DizzyDesii]

Not surprised