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Walmart stores close Thursday; Local businesses are glad

8 years 2 months 17 hours ago Wednesday, January 27 2016 Jan 27, 2016 January 27, 2016 6:15 PM January 27, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

CLINTON - Hundreds of Walmart will be closing its doors on Thursday, including the store in Clinton.

Some empty aisles were taped off, and only a few canned items remained on shelves as many people splurged on the closing sales.

Curry Pharmacy is located just a few blocks away from the Clinton Walmart. Its owner, Wimberly Gayle has been in business for about 15 years with her husband. But Curry Pharmacy isn't an ordinary pharmacy.

"We have lots of things here. We have lots of gifts, school supplies and school uniforms. Things like that," Gayle said.

Gayle said the Walmart just a few blocks away is her biggest competitor.

"They can beat you on prices," she said. "There's not much you can do to beat a big chain on prices because of their buying power."

Gayle said eight months ago when she heard Walmart was opening in Clinton, the news put her in a panic.

"Everyday I was checking my numbers and comparing them to the last year's numbers. We were staying pretty steady," she said. "We came to see that ti wasn't going to do the damage we thought."

Gayle said although she relaxed, she is glad to see the Walmart go.

But many people in the community say they appreciated the job opportunities Walmart provided and believed the store could have helped the city grow.

For Gayle, she said she's learned that local residents are loyal to small businesses.

"Good service, hometown service and friendly people. That's where you have to beat them," she said.

The Clinton Walmart is set to close Thursday at 7 p.m.

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