H Street's Walmart Will Close Next Month

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I have never been in this store when it was not packed. I wouldn't say it was large, though.

FEB 28, 3:47 PMUPDATED 4:24 PM

H Street’s Walmart Will Close Next Month

Matt Blitz | https://twitter.com/WhyBlitz



Flickr / SounderBruce

The large Walmart on H Street, one of the area’s most affordable grocery stores, is closing at the end of March.

The Walmart Supercenter located at 99 H Street NW is closing March 31, according to a sign posted outside the store, and confirmed by a Walmart spokesperson. The pharmacy will shutter two weeks sooner, on March 17.

The Washington Business Journal first reported the news. ... All prescriptions will be transferred to other locations, and employees will also be given the option to move to another nearby store.

There are two other Walmarts in the District, on Georgia Avenue in Brightwood and on Riggs Road in Northeast. In explaining the closure, a spokesperson said the store’s financial performance was below expectations.

This adds to the list of now 10 Walmarts nationwide that the company has closed this year, citing the same reason.

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[IronLionZion]

1. It's always packed so someone must be shopping there

The few times I've gone there it was busy, understaffed, and lots of items were locked up requiring staff to open it.

I guess some people depend on it and the groceries are cheap.

[jimfields33]

3. One down, 10,000 more to go.

As liberals, we should be thrilled Walmart is slowly leaving its clutches on our towns and cities. Hurray! Good day for America! Keep it up.

[IronLionZion]

4. I get that, but the other argument is that low income people shop there

not everyone can afford to shop elsewhere.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. You are correct. The people who live in that neighborhood can just damn well starve.

As IronLionZion has already pointed out, not everyone in that neighborhood has the luxury you evidently do of being able to choose where to buy groceries.

If you leave out the Gonzaga students and the students from Georgetown Law, the average household income of that store's customer base is surely below the average for DC.

I used to hit the store on the way home from work. The prices were good, and they sold five-pound bags of Quaker grits and cases of Miller Genuine Draft.

I can go somewhere else. The store's neighbors? Not so much. Oh, yes, a few jobs will go missing too.

DU's most recent "I hate Walmart" thread ran back in January. It contained this remarkable post:

I can't imagine buying food at a dollar store

Everything is processed. Many rural people shop at Walmart - at least they now carry organic vegetables and lots of other organic items.

I live rural and the closest tiny town - 10 miles has a great small grocery with lots of Organics but expensive - I shop there during the week but travel to Albuquerque once every 2 months for stocking up at the large natural grocery stores -180 miles round trip - next choice Walmart 80 miles round trip. Our tiny town has 2 dollar stores for a town of under 900.

Right. Get in your car and drive 180 miles round trip to buy groceries. That way, we can hold our heads high and not besmirch our purity by shopping at Walmart.

Please give your opinion some more thought.

[tazkcmo]

6. Some liberals work for Walmart.

I know several, including me.

[IronLionZion]

7. Are they a good employer?

[tazkcmo]

11. They're ok.

I've definitely worked in worse places. Pay is decent, the work isn't hard and I'm treated like the adult I am. Walmart burned thra lot of good by being a crappy employer so it will take a long time to shed that perception and deservedly so. But all in all they're not so bad

[jimfields33]

8. I guess I can cross Walmart off the bad list.

I always thought it was hated on here.

[IronLionZion]

10. It's great to have choices

but I have a car and money to shop at Whole Foods, Mom's organic market, Trader Joe's, and Wegmans. Some carless or food stamp folks don't have those options.

[jimfields33]

12. True. I'd love a wegman's

We have Winn Dixie or Publix. Aren’t we lucky? Lol.

[SouthernIrish]

9. Me too

I have worked there almost 30 years.The same people that want Walmart to go away, are often the same people that hate red states. I also live in a red state. Libs in red states don't always have it easy.

[bottomofthehill]

2. It is an extremely expensive area

Between rent and shrinkage, although busy, it may not be a profit center.