I-Team: Walmart stores that were suddenly closed for plumbing issues haven't sought permits

[Newsjock]

Source: WFTS Tampa

Employees of a Walmart in Brandon that abruptly closed Monday were among more than 2,000 employees nationwide who learned almost simultaneously they were being laid off.

In a nearly identical manner at every store, Walmart corporate officials visited the five locations, called an impromptu meeting in the back of the store and told employees that the stores would be closing that evening.

... “The issues mostly relate to clogs and water leaks in the plumbing - we’ve had persistent issues over the last several years,“ said Walmart spokeswoman Christina Morton. ... The I-Team has learned that none of the five affected stores have sought any plumbing permits for future repairs.

... No plumbers or contractors could be seen at the Brandon Wal-Mart today.

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/i-team-wal-mart-stores-that-were-suddenly-closed-for-plumbing-issues-havent-sought-permits

[djean111]

1. Payback for wage issues? Stores not performing well?

So cheap they put off repairs for years?

On the other hand, my house was built in 1987, here below Brandon, and after about 13 or 14 years the PVC pipes buried in/under the concrete slab started to degrade and leak, and I had to have my entire house re-piped. The choice I had was to smash up the slab, hoping to find the leak straight away, and fix it, or just have all the plumbing re-ran up through the attic and down through the walls,

[durablend]

11. Really not buying the "plumbing" angle

Given that 'supposedly' there's only a small number of prototypes that Walmart uses when they build a store, it's highly unlikely that only five have problems (what about the rest of them?), that's even assuming all five used the same plan (they weren't built in the same timeframe).

Me thinks that part about Walmart "increasing employee wages" might have something to do with it. They don't intend on increasing net payroll overall throughout the chain so what better way to cut costs than unloading properties (and employees) that may be redundant or "problems"?

[MosheFeingold]

22. Not sure if this applies

But Wal-Mart typically does not own its real estate. There is another company that owns them (theoretically unrelated) that builds them and then rents them to Wal-Mart. (I used to invest in it, but don't have the info anymore.)

I would not be surprised that Wal-Mart is trying to bust the contract with the rental company.

[DeSwiss]

2. The pipes that carry the cashflow......

...are ''fixed'' by lawyers and accountants.

- Probably saw there wasn't enough flowing into the CEO's Golden Parachute Account.

K&R

[Thor_MN]

3. Stores that have served their purposes of killing off local stores?

are are therefore now redundant?

[djean111]

5. That store always looks full of shoppers when I drive by it.

Weird. Unless there are drainage problems that they have been covering up and may get sued for.
Back when that area was being developed (by covering all the land with asphalt parking lots and block buildings), streets and housing developments would be so flooded that people could literally kayak to the grocery store. The rule back then was, when the company I worked for was closing offices and transferring us down here, to ask specifically about flooding. I am a good eight or nine miles away, on high ground. I expect to have beachfront property if I live long enough.

[Thor_MN]

7. If there is another within driving distance, and that one killed the "mom and pops"...

It's now redundant. Cheaper to WalMart to have the people drive to the other store than have to staff and stock two stores. Part of WalMart strategy is to kill the competition with low prices then jack them up to what the market will bear...

[davidpdx]

9. If you hear anything else locally please keep us updated

[djean111]

15. Looks like they are busily expanding and crapping, as usual -

http://tbo.com/news/politics/big-box-proposal-that-riled-bloomingdale-is-revealed-as-walmarts-20150107/

But what really incensed opponents was how developers skirted the traditional process for a rezoning proposal, which would have required public notification. The Bloomingdale property was rezoned in 2003 to the Traditional Neighborhood Development designation. A big box store was an allowed use under the new zoning, but it would have been a tight fit.

Eight years later, commissioners approved changes in the county’s land development code initiated by the developer of the property, Redstone Investments. The changes altered parking, traffic patterns and the amount of commercial space allowed in the development.

Land development code changes do not require public notification.

“I think it was despicable that our government does these kinds of things, in effect, secretly,” said George Niemann, a member of the opposition. “And as a result, we in the community suffer with the horrendous traffic.”

May said county commissioners did not do their homework and Bloomingdale residents will pay the price.

“I’m disappointed in our county leaders that they didn’t come out and speak to us more directly before the fact and look at how it would really affect us,” May said. “Not enough preliminary work was done for a project that so adversely affected our community.”

[NaturalHigh]

4. The one in Tulsa is known locally as "robs-a-lot."

It's in a really crappy section of town, and police are called there all the time, either to deal with the store being robbed or patrons being robbed or assaulted in the parking lot. I'm sure Wal-Mart is glad to be dumping the place.

[djean111]

6. The one in Brandon is in a pretty nice area, next to a nice mall.

Doesn't seem to be a connection between the closed stores as yet.

[durablend]

12. Any "union rumblings"?

Walmart certainly doesn't want empowered employees.

[djean111]

14. Have not heard about it.

A little more research - found out that a new supercenter is being built about 15-20 minutes away - zoning was sneaked through even though the residential community protested mightily - and a smaller Walmart is being closed and the employees will be transferred to the new store. The small Walmart was having problems - the usual empty shelves, and a Publix in the same shopping center was killing them on food. But both the Publix and the Walmart have been there since I moved here in 1987.

So - supercenter and small Walmart closing, one for good, one "for six months", and a new supercenter being built. I will keep an eye out for the "plumbing problems".

[femmedem]

8. The store in Pico Rivera had 23 people arrested for protesting for higher wages.n/t

[Mopar151]

10. Who owns the real estate?

When Wal-Mart came into this area, some of their stores went into leased space, and some were built from raw land, or redeveloped. My observation is that Wal-Mart will dump this leased space over time, and on terms favorable to them.

[MsSic]

24. In MY area.....

In Lake Elsinore, CA. the city paid for the entire construction for the Walmart on Grape street. They were paid back by the tax revenue the 1st month it opened. So, technically, the city owns the building- thus government owned. Oo I just found this out, so I was wondering if this was also the case in any of all of the closed Walmart's. Hmmmm.....

[durablend]

13. Hopefully people keep on this

Assuming they intend on ditching the properties, wouldn't put it past Walmart at all to hire some "fake" plumbers to "work" at the stores (gives it that nice "lived-in" look) and find that for whatever reason the problems are unfixable. Though I don't know if they'd be able to do that without permits unless they have some convenient government officials they can pay off to look the other way (wouldn't surprise me either)

[Mopar151]

18. Wal-mart construction crews are not local

Work on the overnight shift, when they can. Would not surprise me if they don't repair/upgrade leased properties.

[dembotoz]

16. they serve food functioning plumbing is a good thing

Let's give this a day or so
They are a big fricken company and perhaps not as nimble as one would hope

[dembotoz]

17. local food store chain has rep for pouring cement down drains in stores the abandon

So that a competitor could not cheaply reopen the location
Always thought of it as a dick move...

[djean111]

19. Went to the local small Walmart and asked a clerk, Investigative reporting!!!!!!

She said the supercenter does have plumbing issues and they have to tear up the floors. Since I had a leak under the slab my home is built on, I have to say this rings true.

The small Walmart is being replaced by a supercenter which is under construction, about 5 or 10 minutes away. The neighborhood is pissed. All employees in the small Walmart will be transferred, and employees from leaky supercenter will be transferred or get termination pay and unemployment.

[ManiacJoe]

20. Do businesses normally need to get permits to do plumbing repairs?

[durablend]

21. I'd assume so given the scope they "claim" is needed n/t

[durablend]

23. Apparently the plumbing inspector was turned away at one store

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/i-team-official-says-sudden-wal-mart-closing-was-suspicious

In Midland, Texas, which, until Monday, was home to one of the 10 busiest Walmart stores in the country, City Building Official Steve Thorpe told the I-Team his plumbing inspector was sent away when he visited the closed store and offered to help secure permits