Five different stores make sudden announcement, claiming “plumbing” issues

Interestingly enough, Walmarts stock has had a down trend for the last 3 months......

This is an article from a local Tampa station. Toward the end, it discusses how surprised the city managers were and that people were wanting to help keep the store open.

BRANDON, Fla. - 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.

Besides Brandon, the affected locations were in Pico Rivera, Calif., Livingston, Texas, Midland, Texas, Tulsa, Okla.

The stores were all built between 1994 and 2004 and average around 200,000 square feet of heated and cooled space.

The stores are all corporate owned and appraised at between $9 million and $28 million each.

Ad valorem taxes at the Brandon location added up to more than $243,000 last year.

Sales taxes collected at that store are believed to be many times that amount.

Walmart issued a statement regarding the plumbing issues at the Brandon store.

“The issues mostly relate to clogs and water leaks in the plumbing - we’ve had persistent issues over the last several years,“ said a Walmart spokesperson said.

“These incidents impact the availability of water and create drainage issues for critical areas of the store which impacts our ability to serve customers,” she said.

“Normally, we do our best to avoid disrupting a store’s operations. However, given this particular store had one of the highest incidences of plumbing issues in the entire fleet and in order to reduce the costs associated with these incidents, we felt it was in the store’s best interest to invest in making the necessary improvements to resolve these issues,” the spokesperson said.

The I-Team has learned that none of the five affected stores have sought any plumbing permits for future repairs.

“We’re in a holding pattern. We’re anxious to learn exactly what they’re planning,” said Pico Rivera City Manager James Enriquez, when we contacted him about the store’s closing Tuesday.

Enriquez says when Walmart notified the city Monday that it was closing the store, he offered his full support in trying to get it back open.

“My building official walked out there and didn’t see any work being done,” he said.

He said his office was unaware of any prior plumbing issues, but reached out to Walmart, offering to help with granting permits for work.

“We needed to do what we could, since about 500 people are without jobs,” Enriquez said Walmart has not contacted his office about obtaining any permits.

The local newspaper documented with video and photos some of the chaos outside that store after workers received the news.

It was one of the busiest days of the year for the Liberty Tax Service in Midland, Texas, when she says a Walmart district manager told her to vacate the kiosk her company rents at that location.

“There were suits everywhere,” said the manager of the store, who asked not to be named.

She said she was told that the store would soon begin tearing up the floor and removing tiles.

The tax service manager said she was told to have her files and computers out of the store by 5 p.m., and was unsure if customers would know how to reach her at another office to file their taxes on time.

The manager said she has worked inside the store since 2012, used the restroom daily and has never seen a plumber working in the store or witnessed a plumbing problem.

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

originally posted by: VelvetPawn
Do people really think that 4k+ troops and all of that military equipment in southern California is just for training?
Come on... Don't be in denial.

That is a unbelievable amount of military equipment for a "training exercise" and Special Ops don't train to detain. They strike fast and eliminate potential threats.

By the way..
Joint Army Domestic Exercise Humanitarian Emergency Logistics Mission +2015

=JADE HELM 15

I really don't have a clue of what is going on but I do know its no training exercise. Something is coming.

Thanks for the Vid, that's pretty crazy. A lot of hardware on the ground. We all know that the government likes to piss away money, so even if all that is just for some training drills I wouldn't be surprised.

Then again, it can also be interpreted as a buildup for a very large(and very real) military occupation operation.

Still, whenever I read threads like this I get all tingly and start to worry. But with the way things are now, I wonder does there really need to be physical control over the population when all the non physical psychological and social barriers have been so effective?

a reply to: VelvetPawn

seeing as how i live right here, and served in the Marine Corps, yea i think i know a little.
do you know how long people have been talking the kinda crap your saying and it's not happened yet. i know at least 35years ago when i first heard it.

tell you what, on that cold day in hell when it does, i'll try to find you here on ATS and apologize for doubting your words. but we all know that won't happen because they'll cut communications. or will they?

I wonder if the recent port issue in California is beginning to affect retail business.

Source

Wal-Mart declined to comment on its relationship with Softline. “Our supply chain and import network are highly diversified. While we are able to reduce the impact of the port delays and flow product to stores for our customers, some of our suppliers are being affected,” the retailer said.

a reply to: texasgirl

But the reasons for the citations was not because they had to clean up the poo. It was because they didn't have the proper equipment nor were they trained properly.

The judge upheld five serious citations against the company for failure to provide:
◾guarding for a fifth floor elevator shaft
◾personal protective equipment
◾compliant respirators
◾medical personnel for advice and consultation, and
◾training for employees on hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Okay, here's some food for thought. If this really isn't a plumbing issue, which definitely seems to be the case here, and they are using that as a cover for whatever the hell is ACTUALLY going on, how will they get around the fact that they haven't filed for permits? How could they go about fabricating such a thing if they wanted to legitimize their excuse? It almost sounds like whatever is going on will eventually come out, they are fully aware of this, and actually don't care. As though it won't matter, like a distraction will be in place that carries enough weight to keep people away from asking questions about the permits. Could they get away with filing for permits that they won't even use? Maybe have someone on the inside who could act as a smokescreen so people stop questioning them? This doesn't add up at all! It really is as though they know they are going to get caught lying about the plumbing issues, but for some reason, don't CARE. In what scenarios would a company such as Walmart actually NOT CARE about being caught in a lie that cost hundred of people their jobs? Oh man this doesn't look good.

originally posted by: Thorneblood
You guys are thinking too small, it isn't just walmart.

Google things like "suddenly closed" and "plumbing problems" it is happening all over the country and often for no given reason.

So I googled "plumbing" and "suddenly closed" minus Walmart and all I got in the first five pages I looked at was a water park that closed in 2009.

I find it remarkable that everyone LOATHES Walmart every day of the week and twice on Sunday and wishes a plague on the whole operation, then when the company closes a few poorly performing stores it's suddenly a big deal. They're not obligated to tell anyone anything about plumbing or anything else. Hey, now "Mom & Pop" can re-open their stores and hire 2000 people like everyone always wanted.

a reply to: DelMarvel

Then please turn in your ATS membership card on your way out, security has been alerted.

www.nbcdfw.com...

www.businessinsider.com...

www.wcnc.com...

www.local10.com...

www.westsiderag.com...

www.myfoxtwincities.com... (this one is very interesting. Its a defense contractor that suddenly went tits up)

m.bizjournals.com...

My opinion. There is no plumbing issue. One distinct possibility in my mind is that those WalMart store that were closed were involved in something criminal or fraudulent. Lots of possibilities, perhaps accepting kick backs from suppliers, laundering money for criminals using gift cards, out and out fraud by the store managers, hiring illegals.. the list of things that could have been perpetrated is quite long. I can imagine some sort of audit or internal investigation finding this out and then WalMart doing damage control by immediately shutting those stores until they can clean things up. But of course that sort of news would really be bad publicity for the company so they concocted the plumbing story.

Either that or those stores were somehow involved in some sort of union activity.

a reply to: BurbGirl378

I saw this and reported it. It was verified on Security Video. All of the merchandise in the stores had to be cleared and the inventory re-stocked for public health reasons. Walmart called it 'remodeling' and they did one store at a time between 2005 and 2010. The Muslim employees and customers still continue to try and make the Christians and Jews physically sick during the December Holidays by tainting the merchandise with their body fluids. It is disgusting.

Really now...how very fascinating that you mention alleged Muslims purposefully rubbing their ass cooties on some merchandise on a thread that just so happens to involve discussion of covert military training exercises. Where did you say this happened? I can't seem to find any news articles on the www...or any mention of it, period. It's almost as if...it never happened.

Stores (plural) having to be cleared out, yet nothing from the CDC regarding the alleged incident...if an establishment has to be closed for "public health reasons", it goes on public record. Hmmm. So many questions. How did they know all of these alleged butt pirates were Muslim? Is there a special test for that exclusive to WalMart? Why would they need to close a store to restock and wipe down some shelves? Why not close all of the stores at once? I mean, if they were all contaminated with "sickness" what did they do? Draw straws or flip a coin to decide which store got "cleared" first?

What "sickness" exactly were they "infecting" the merchandise with? That really made me chuckle because any person that accepts paper money as currency is exposed to a veritable bacterial soup. I especially get a kick out of watching cashiers touch money and then lick their fingers to wet them so they can pull the plastic bags open. That's a very common, every day thing. And they don't close the store down or refuse cash for payment.

Thousands of employees and customers go to the bathroom and don't wash their hands, and touch all kinds of merchandise. And they all harbor the same bacteria in their rear ends that Muslims do, yet the stores continue doing business. Which hand were they using when they "dug into their butt cracks", as you allegedly witnessed? Left or right? Did it ever occur to you that other Muslims would also be at risk; children, grandparents, mothers and fathers, of becoming sick too? Maybe your WalMart has special aisles designated for each religion and these renegade Muslims only stocked shelves on the christian or Jewish aisles?

And lastly, what was the point of all that? Are you trying to assert that these closings are just the work of more nefarious, dastardly, cootie-slinging Muslim WalMart employees? Or were you just trying to stir the pot? I think it's safe to say that Islam is not involved in this, so it has to be the latter. This is scary enough as is. There is no reason to cloud the issue with ridiculous nonsense like this too.

originally posted by: hounddoghowlie
a reply to: VelvetPawn

seeing as how i live right here, and served in the Marine Corps, yea i think i know a little.
do you know how long people have been talking the kinda crap your saying and it's not happened yet. i know at least 35years ago when i first heard it.

tell you what, on that cold day in hell when it does, i'll try to find you here on ATS and apologize for doubting your words. but we all know that won't happen because they'll cut communications. or will they?

Nahhh. You wont have to come on ATS to admit being wrong. You and I live in the SAME CITY. We will probably share a bunk in Camp Fun Time! For our protection of course.

I really hope I am wrong along with almost all of the mass media right now that is just as dumbfounded by the store closures.
You have to admit though with the way the world is right now, this sorta thing does make you take a step back.

I'm not talking crap Sir. I'm sharing my feelings about the situation. If I am wrong people wasted money on extra canned goods. If your wrong they are either dead, detained or somewhere in between. Plus- this is a Conspiracy Forum. I think I'm in the right place.

Thank you for your service sir. Simper Fi!

a reply to: texasgirl

I have been a retail manager for 25 years and have been through several store closings. A company that decides to shutter some unprofitable locations do not give those stores only 5 hours notice. They are given 4-6 weeks to sell off their inventory and clean out. A 5 hour notice means some emergency type event is taking place. What that event is, I don't know.

That's what bothers me the most about this. They're apparently scrambling to close them as quickly as they can. And it seems that some of these stores turn a decent profit, so why close them? It just doesn't make sense.

a reply to: texasgirl

Why are Texas and Utah being labeled "hostile"? I guess I can see Texas having this label because our border is open and any 'terrorist' can get through but Utah is not on any border. Anyone have an explanation?

Not sure about Utah, but Texas is self-sustaining. We have everything we need, and my dad used to say that we could secede from the union and be perfectly fine. That we could practically be our own country. I think that would certainly be problematic for TPTB if their goal is to subvert everyone in the country. Just a theory.

Lets throw a little group logic into the mix and see what rises to the top.

These are the basic theories

1: Union Busting - Hard to imagine but sure.

2: Jade Helm - I wanna believe it, but we have heard this kinda song for years and nothing comes of it

3: Terrorism - This one could be something fi you really wanna stretch that logic out, i mean, easy access to guns and explosives within driving distance of major metropolitan areas and government centers. An organized group could do some damage from a walmart "base" and all in the comforting embrace of Corporate America.

4: Aliens - Cause It's ATS (Seriously tho should really be considered "abstract" or "abnormal" as there are far too many possibilities in this field for it to be labeled just "Greys")

5: Disease - Unlikely.

originally posted by: generik
so it seems that Wal-mart does indeed have a habit of last minute, no warning layoffs. at least these people got 5 hours notice, not just show up to work and be told you no longer have a job like we did. it would be interesting to talk to those that worked at these stores and see if there were similar things going on at the stores before they closed. did associates feel like they were being pressured to quit? did they feel they were being set up by management to fight among themselves to make people want to quit, or put them in positions to be fired? did the store seem to be going out of their way more than normal about nailing associates for theft or firing for other reasons, including employees being set up? were they allowed to hire people when associates quit or were fired? i seriously wish i could ask those that worked for years at these locations about the last several months at work.

There are often local and state laws and regulations about notifications about 'mass layoffs'. Blaming plumbing seems like a great excuse to evade them.

I don't think there is any government involvement. My guess is that there was attempted unionization, and this was retaliation.

"Boss: It seems that those union people always seem to screw up the ""plumbing"" in the stores, and then we close the whole thing down. I'm sure you wouldn't want that to happen to your jobs and your plumbing, if you understand my meaning."


And so Walmart is breaking two kinds of laws now.

originally posted by: Pimpish
a reply to: texasgirl



But the reasons for the citations was not because they had to clean up the poo. It was because they didn't have the proper equipment nor were they trained properly.

The judge upheld five serious citations against the company for failure to provide:

◾guarding for a fifth floor elevator shaft

◾personal protective equipment

◾compliant respirators

◾medical personnel for advice and consultation, and

◾training for employees on hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

You're getting distracted by the little details. If this company make these mistakes then so can Walmart. It doesn't make sense to have your own employees run the risk of getting a fatal disease. Hire a trained professional!

The point I was making is that companies hire people to do this. Hiring a Walmart employee back to clean up a rodent problem doesn't pass the smell test in my opinion.

Has someone tried calling one of these stores and asking why they're closed? See what excuse they come up with?

My local walmart has been “under repair” since Easter. They are replacing all the floors section by section, night by night. It has been a few weeks, and they are only partially done. With the being said, they are remaining open while doing this.
I fully think if they shut down, they would have been long done by now….

Not sure why it takes 6 months for plumbing repairs unless you are digging up the entire foundation.