Walmart Closes 2 Montreal Stores, Bets on Quebec's Economy

0:00Wal-Mart's closing two stores in Montreal, Quebec, next year. The Coat Disnegas spot shuts down June 19th, 2026, and point A. Okshren Bells follows a week later on June 26th. Company says it's all about tweaking their store's setup to match what customers want now. This comes even as Wal-Mart pumps cash into Quebec. They're dropping $150 million there, including a new store in Sherbrook and upgrades to 18 others. It's part of a huge $6.5 billion push over 5 years across Canada to build more spots and grow. Locals aren't thrilled, especially since these Wal-Mart's were the cheapest game in town. Shoppers say prices elsewhere hit hard, and these stores helped immigrants and budget folks stock up. Some online folks call it a big loss for the neighborhood. Employees get a lifeline though, with offers to transfer nearby. Wal-Mart still runs over 70 stores in Quebec, employing 12,000 people and buys billions from local suppliers.

1:01Bottom line, they're streamlining in Montreal, but betting big on Quebec's strong economy to keep expanding smart. This has been Durham News Today, powered by AI.