Downtown Walmart closure 'horrific', says Soup Kitchen manager

2:15 p.m. update:

"Our Sault Ste. Marie Walmart on Bay Street (Station Mall) will be closing at the end of June," Felicia Fefer from Walmart Canada tells SooToday.

"As part of the our store strategy, we are constantly reviewing the efficiency of our store network to ensure we are best serving Canadians to help them save money and live better," Fefer said.

"This review includes factors like concentration of stores and our overall ability to best serve our customers. This decision is not a reflection of the outstanding group of associates, who through their hard work and commitment, have supported the Sault Ste. Marie community. All associates will be offered comparable positions at nearby Walmart locations, including positions at our recently renovated Sault Ste. Marie Walmart Supercentre on Great Northern Road."

Ron Sim, general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre, described today's news as "horrific."

Unless another grocery store moves in, the downtown will be left as something close to a 'food ghetto' with core-area low-income earners forced to shell out for taxi/ bus fares just to travel to and from the nearest alternatives: RJ's Market at 238 Wellington St. W. and the Churchill Plaza Metro, Sim told SooToday.

"All the seniors who live downtown, where are they going to go?" Sim asked.

Other than Walmart. the closest thing to a full-scale grocery downtown is City Meat Market at 814 Queen St. E., which offers an in-house butcher and baker and is open 9 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Lori Nowitski tells SooToday that her family-owned business tried extending those hours once but the experiment was unsuccessful.

"Our customers are kind of accustomed to our hours," Nowitski said, adding that City Meat Market offers a popular delivery service for $7 to anywhere in the city.

1:04 p.m. original story:

Staff at the downtown Walmart learned today that the store will close.

The following is from a news release issued by Walmart Canada.

SooToday will have further details as they become available.

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Walmart Canada is committed to evaluating their store network to meet customer needs and ensure continued growth strategies.

The company has opened more than 20 stores over the past four years.

As part of the retailer's store strategy, they will also close two stores – one in Pincourt, Quebec (101 Boulevard Cardinal Leger) and one in Sault St. Marie, Ontario (293 Bay Street).

All associates at these two stores will be offered positions at nearby Walmart locations to better serve customers in these markets.

In the Pincourt area, Walmart Canada looks forward to welcoming customers to nearby stores, including the Vaudreuil Supercentre (3050 Boulevard de la Gare) which offers an expanded assortment including fresh groceries.

In Sault Ste. Marie, customers are invited to visit the newly renovated Supercentre located at 446 Great Northern Rd.

The company does not plan to close any further stores this year.

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