Sam's Club Closing Batavia Store

BATAVIA, IL - The Sam's Club in Batavia is one of five Illinois stores that will close in a move that the city says will affect about 150 local employees and the city's operating budget for 2018.

Sam's Club announced Thursday that it will close several stores in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and New York. In addition to Batavia, Sam's Club will also close Illinois stores in Romeoville, Naperville, Matteson and Moline.

RELATED: Sam's Club Closing Multiple Stores In Illinois

The Batavia store at 501 n. Randall Road is expected to close on Jan. 26, according to a memo from the city. As a source of big box sales tax revenues for nearly 20 years, the closing will have an adverse affect on the operating budget.

“At this time we are assessing the city’s financial position going into 2018 and putting a hold on the hiring of two new positions that were part of the budget,” Batavia City Administrator Laura Newman said. “We will also be discussing revisions to the 2018 Operating Budget to examine our ongoing expenses.”

City staff expressed disappointment in the news of the store closing, noting that it "appeared to be a very successful store."

"As this impacts the City’s revenues, City staff encourage everyone to shop at other Batavia stores and keep their sales tax within the community. "

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