An Atlanta Walmart is scheduled to reopen in May 2024, housing a police substation. This follows the closure of the retail location last year due to a surge in criminal activity, as reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
The Vine City Walmart Supercenter ceased operations after experiencing an alleged arson incident in December, marking the second fire at the location that year. Another Walmart store situated on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta was also shuttered following a fire.
CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC in 2022, “Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been. We’ve got safety measures, security measures that we’ve put in place by store location,” McMillon said. “I think local law enforcement being staffed and being a good partner is part of that equation, and that’s normally how we approach it. If that’s not corrected over time, prices will be higher, and/or stores will close.”