Search
 

It's a Walmart Whirlwind So Far in 2016

Walmart has made several headlines already this year, and not all of them have been great news for retail real estate landlords.

By Jonathan Hipp | jonathanhipp | Updated on February 24, 2016

Walmart dropped a bomb earlier this year when the company announced that it is closing all of its 102 Walmart Express stores. The Walmart Express concept, which was much smaller than the retailer’s traditional stores, averaging about 12,000 square feet, was intended to compete with convenience, drug and dollar stores that have edged more and more into the grocery business over the last decade.

Critics say the concept, launched in 2014, didn’t work largely because Walmart placed the Express concept in rural areas, mainly in the South and Midwest, in close proximity to its existing Supercenters. The problem is, those areas are where convenience and dollar stores generally perform the strongest. Some argue that the plan would have worked better if Walmart had placed the Express units in urban areas, where it does not yet have a very dominant foothold, and would cater to an audience of many underserved customers.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.