Newstalk 860 logo
Get our free mobile app

Walmart is a necessity for thousands of people in Dallas, Texas, and thousands more in East Texas, including myself. We rely upon the big box retailer for groceries, household goods, medication, gas, automobile service, and more. While we may take it for granted that Walmart will be there and the fact that they're so convenient and can satisfy our needs, the reality is that may not always be the case because Walmart could be closing some of its stores in 2024.

In 2023 Walmart anticipated closing 15 underperforming stores, but by the end of the year, the company closed 24 of its stores in 14 different states. The retail giant is battling two major fronts:

  • retail theft from customers
  • online competition from retailers like Amazon

Last May I was in the Houston area and had to pick something up real quick so I stopped at Walmart. One thing I noticed was that a lot of everyday normal items were locked up behind cage doors that were installed over the shelves at this store in Houston. So theft was pretty evident in this store and now they have self-checkouts, so I can only imagine that the theft rate has dramatically increased in all of their stores.

In regards to 2023's closures, Walmart released a statement that read in part:

These stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the city [of Chicago]... It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores’ performance. Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing." (The Street)

So far in 2024, Walmart has announced it'll only be closing two stores this year, both in California, because the company can't reach a deal on leasing agreements with the current lease owners. Seeing how the stores seem to be performing here in East Texas it looks pretty unlikely that Walmart will be closing any of its stores in Texas, but it is possible.

Walmart does have plans though to remodel many stores throughout the U.S. So, you could be inconvenienced a bit if your local store goes through a remodel.

8 Most Stolen Items from Walmart Stores

Here is a look at 8 of the most stolen items from Walmart stores.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

Top Reasons Why People Hate Walmart Stores

Here are the biggest complaints about Walmart stores across the state of Texas.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

11 Items You Should Not Buy At Walmart Stores

If you're trying to save money at Walmart stores you should still avoid purchasing these items while you're there.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

7 Big Changes to Expect at Walmart Stores

There are big changes coming to Walmart stores and here is what you should expect to see.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

More From Newstalk 860