I went to walmart last night to pick up a few items and picked up some chatter between two cashiers.
What peaked my interest was the phrase "severence package", then other cashier said she had put in for a transfer to Syracuse, because thats where her boyfriend is and she was hoping she would get it "before this place closes"

Hmm...I wouldn't surprise me if they closed, they've had the RPD over there so much they might as well set up an Outpost. Add to that,  the torpedo-ing of the proposed Super WalMart deeper into town and I can't really think of another Walmart locally that ISN'T a SuperCenter.
Take all that into consideration, it makes sense. I would think if they do, they would hold off on an announcement until after the Hoilday season..

That'd be huge ... especially since they have a monopoly on this side of town.

I wouldn't be surprised.  This economic recession has adversely impacted many businesses.  I read that McDonald's sales fell 0.6% in November.
Other fast food restaurants have not fared as well.  Pizza Hut sales were down 13%.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdonalds-same-store-sales-rise-07-2009-12-08

I have been in Wal-Mart a few times during this holiday season and have not had to wait in line once. I found it to be unusually slow. (dead actually)  Brad is probably right in that the recession has effected even Wal-Mart.

I was at the Rotterdam Mall this past week and asked the sales people in the stores that I was shopping in, how business was. They all had the same general consensus, that Black Friday was great, but it has been very slow ever since.

The walmart super center does pretty good in albany and glenville. Rotterdam seems to be slow in comparison. I know a lot of people from this area that goes to those walmarts instead of rotterdams.

I hope that doesn't mean that they are still going to try to erect a supercenter here in rotterdam in the near future. If that ever happened that would just about kill off the rotterdam mall and take a huge chunk out of hannaford and price chopper. (not to mention the smaller businesses)

Every time another store closes it means less tax revenue for the town and county.

I work at Walmart part time.  We are not closing.  The workers are frustrated by low wages and less hours so I think the chatter was just blowing off steam.  I greet on ocassion and the shoppers are still coming in at a brisk pace year round.  where in Rotterdam can you beat those prices?  

Quoted from 395

I work at Walmart part time.  We are not closing.  The workers are frustrated by low wages and less hours so I think the chatter was just blowing off steam.  I greet on ocassion and the shoppers are still coming in at a brisk pace year round.  where in Rotterdam can you beat those prices?  

Ya, I kinda suspected you were the "walmart greeter" kinda person.

I'll tell you, I don't generally go in any stores on black Friday, we decorate.  There was something we wanted at Boscovs on sale only Thanksgiving day (for shame) and on Friday.  So we went to Colonie Center in the afternoon.  We come from the Curry Rd area, so we drive past Wal-mart oh, maybe 10 in the morning, I was amazed how empty their parking lot was.  I mean, it wasn't empty, but it was hardly full, it was more like the first of the month when large numbers of people get handouts from the rest of us working taxpayers.  Not like any other black Friday (but I can't compare to last year)  However this year was different,  We went to Colonie Center, and decided to take in Sears, LL Bean, and Barnes and Noble.  Lines, lines, and lines.  I was over on Wolf Rd today, stopped at the Office Max there just for convenience (wish I took the back roads by the airport).  So came down Wolf Rd, my god it took me, seriously, 25 minutes to get from Office Max to Central Ave, and that's like only twice the length of Colonie Center!  And this is a regular work day before the rush hour (2:30 +/-). Cars coming out of Toys r us, Bed Bath and Beyond and no cops to direct traffic., and lots of cars going into the mall at the Sears/LL Bean/Christmas Tree shop end.

But ran into Wal-mart today before getting home, early evening.  That commercial on TV, I love the commercial of the registers and the, what is the song, Carol of the Bells? and the commercial talks of having all these registers open.  They had three. and there were probably 5 customers in each line when I approached, and I only had two things, no express lane.  Customer in the next line said something as a cashier walked by about getting more lanes open and was really ignored.

I would find it a loss it Wal-mart closed here.  True, there's much that many of us don't like about Wal-mart, and there are things I definitely won't buy there because of poor quality. But I have no problem with the paper products, detergents.  We'll buy board games there, but stay away from most toys not that we can find decent toys most other places.  Hey, sandpaper is a good price but wouldn't dream of buying paint there.  Some small appliances are ok, but not all.  One day going for a new pyrex plate passed by the mixing bowls, one had a label reading Mainstay (Walmart only brand) Melamine Bowls.  I was shocked!  Melamine is that stuff that killed dogs I think or was it baby stuff?  I can't believe they would sell something so dangerous.  Their DVD prices are some good, some higher, but their selection sucks.  While I've gone to the Glenville store, some groceries I'd buy, but I stay away from the meat and produce.  Took my neighbor over there last week, she bought 10 boxes of miniature lights last year and when she took them off the house, paint was coming off the light bulbs.  They wouldn't give her a refund.  So we took her over there last week, she bought 10 more.  Three boxes didn't work at all, the fourth only half.  She returns them, replaces with same thing, checked them in the store and while they all work, one of the socket things was missing, so exposed wire which would be a live wire and would start a fire, can you imagine turning the lights on the bushes and the bushes going up in flames reaching the house while you are out shopping?   But she said that when she made the exchange, the cashier at the return desk said they had lots of returns of those.  So much for saving money and living better.

To sum it up, Wal-mart is a necessary evil

People may be still entering walmart at a steady pace.....but it is clearly a slower pace in comparison to other businesses outside of rotterdam and in comparison to the sales they pulled in just a few years ago.

No business will escape this recession without some kind of impact on their bottom line.

Like I said, its only hearsay, but just like Price Chopper got rid of its smaller underperforming stores, I think Walmart will too.

You deny all you want that traffic has declined in that store, but I've seen it.
I remember not too long ago that you would have to use the "go to electronics dept" trick in order to cash out without waiting forever. Its not that way anymore, and don't tell me its because of more cashiers,  because its not.

They may or may not close, but the handwriting is on the wall.

Quoted from 55tbird

Like I said, its only hearsay, but just like Price Chopper got rid of its smaller underperforming stores, I think Walmart will too.

You deny all you want that traffic has declined in that store, but I've seen it.
I remember not too long ago that you would have to use the "go to electronics dept" trick in order to cash out without waiting forever. Its not that way anymore, and don't tell me its because of more cashiers,  because its not.

They may or may not close, but the handwriting is on the wall.

Yes it could be nothing more than mere speculation. But unless one is brain dead, it is obvious that walmart is s-l-o-w!

Some larger companies prefer to keep a store open that is running in the black for tax purposes. But they can only do that legally for so many years. I'm not saying that walmart is running in the black....just making a general statement.

But they 'could' clearly close the rotterdam store and continue with albany and glenville to pick up the slack. OR they could propose another super walmart for rotterdam!

Quoted Text

This holiday season, Walmart is recognizing the sacrifices of our deployed servicemen and women - and their families back at home by partnering with Operation Homefront to give $1 million and an early Christmas to more than 10,000 military children and families who will receive free toys, books, Walmart gift cards and gift packages. Walmart is also donating $150,000 to Wreaths Across America to purchase, transport and lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries and memorial sites across the United States to honor fallen veterans. For more information, please visit http://www.walmartgiving.com

just for reference walmat moves more than $90 billion dollars a quarter

this comment is not to be disrespectful it is here to make you think

Quoted from TippyCanoe

just for reference walmat moves more than $90 billion dollars a quarter

this comment is not to be disrespectful it is here to make you think

I understand exactly the point you are making.  I'll make a bet that the total amount (cash or otherwise) that Walmart gives in this capital region isn't as much as Price Chopper gives (cash or otherwise) for Melodies of Christmas alone!  And the Golub family is Jewish!   OK, Price Chopper is local.  But how about Hannaford, they aren't based here and look at the big production they have with Capital Lights.

Sure, Walmart is generous, it seems their giving is more to worldwide organizations (and that is certainly admirable), with some exceptions I don't seem them involved much in the local communities they are in, and many communities, like our area here, are in great need.  

Hey, Walmart could afford to pay for the replacement of the Crown Point bridge, that cost would be a drop in the bucket for them, and none of their upper echelon would even have to take a cut in pay.  But instead People have lost their jobs because of the bridge closing, probably at risk of losing their homes, the gov has stated that the state is in the worst financial crisis ever.  Look at the cost to the taxpayers for the everything involved in this bridge now, the cost for inspection, the replacement itself, paying for the ferry, probably paying for public assistance programs to those left unemployed because of the bridge.