Walmart closures upset Portland commissioner, business owner | JM McBride

Walmart is closing all of its remaining stores in Portland, Oregon, and one city commissioner says the community needs to work harder to keep stores, including Big Boxes, from leaving.

The last two Walmart stores in Portland will close on March 24, affecting 580 employees, according to messages the retailer sent to Oregon officials.

Portland city commissioner Rene Gonzalez told FOX 12 Oregon that the city needs to work harder to keep stores like Walmart from leaving.

“While it’s critical to support local, small businesses, chain stores provide an affordable option for working-class families throughout the city, including East Portland,” he said, according to FOX 12 Oregon. been too hard on businesses in Portland, and we need to work harder and smarter as a city to keep employers and retail opportunities from leaving.

Local entrepreneur Darrel Hanson told FOX 12, “It hurts this community when they leave. Many people depend on that store.”

On February 22, 2023, Walmart sent out a WARN notification that it was closing its first store. “This is to inform you that Walmart is closing its store #2552 at 4200 SE 82ND AVE PORTLAND OF 97266,” the retailer wrote in the notice.

“There are 379 employees affected at this location. The entire facility will close. Employees have been notified of the closure of the facility on February 22, 2023. The store will close to the public on 3/24/2023. All employees at this location The facility will be terminated on June 2, 2023. We expect the segregation of employment to be permanent,” the notice read.

The WARN message was sent to the temporary Rapid Response Coordinator of the Oregon Dislocated Worker Unit, the Chairman of the Multnomah County Board of Supervisors and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

A second WARN message sent to the same officials on the same date reads, “This is to inform you that Walmart is closing its store #5899 at 1123 N HAYDEN MEADOWS DR PORTLAND, OR 97217. There are 201 employees who are affected at this location.”

It continues, “The entire facility will close. Employees have been notified of the closure of the facility on February 22, 2023. The store will close to the public on March 24, 2023. All employees at this facility will be June 2, 2023. We expect job segregation to be permanent.”