Hundreds To Lose Jobs With Sam's Club Closures In Illinois

Hundreds of Sam's Club employees in the suburbs will lose their jobs when seven of its Illinois stores close. Sam's Club announced last month it would close 63 of its stores nationwide and 12 of those will be converted to "eCommerce fulfillment centers in a move that will speed delivery of online orders, with the balance of the facilities closing over the next few weeks."

In a recent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act report, or WARN report, the number of employees affected by the Sam's Club layoffs in Illinois totaled 1,137. The WARN report is issued monthly. Employers are required under state law to give the state notice of mass layoffs or plant closures.

Here is a look at the Illinois Sam's Club stores slated for closure and the number of employees affected by those closures:

• Batavia Sam's Club, 201 N. Randall Road: 150
• Wheeling Sam's Club, 1055 Wheeling Road: 138
• Streamwood Sam's Club, 900 S. Barrington Road: 191
• Matteson Sam's Club, 21430 S. Cicero Ave.: 166
• Naperville Sam's Club, 808 S. Route 59: 170
• Moline Sam's Club, 6600 44th Avenue: 155
• Romeoville Sam's Club, 460 S. Weber Road: 167

A voice recording following calls to all suburban Sam's Club stores noted the stores were closed effective Jan. 27. A voice recording at the Batavia pharmacy noted it closed effective Feb. 9. All of the prescriptions for that pharmacy were transferred to the Elgin Sam's Club pharmacy, 1000 S. Randall Road, according to the voice recording.

• MORE HERE: Illinois Sam's Closings: Some Clubs Will Become eCommerce
  

The WARN report notes all of the Illinois layoffs will be completed by April 13.

In a statement sent to Patch following the announcement of the closures last month the company said the decision to close stores was made after a thorough performance review. The first of the converted eCommerce fulfillment centers will be located in Memphis, Tenn., according to Sam's Club, which did not indicate whether any Illinois locations will be converted.

"Transforming our business means managing our real estate portfolio and Walmart needs a strong fleet of Sam's Clubs that are fit for the future," said John Furner, president and CEO of Sam's Club. "We know this is difficult news for our associates and we are working to place as many of them as possible at nearby locations. Our focus today has been on those associates and their communities, and communicating with them."

Walmart will provide support and resources to those associates who are affected, including a bonus and 60 days of pay, as well as severance to those eligible, according to a Sam's Club press release.

“We need great people to help lead us into the future and we hope that many of them will stay with the company at either a local store or club,” Furner said. “Change is never easy, but we’re making these decisions as part of running a healthy business.”

For some shoppers the news means they'll no longer have a nearby store or one within easy driving distance. Customers who don't want to drive to a store in a neighboring community may be able to get their membership fee refunded. According to the Sam's Club website, the chain has a 100 percent membership satisfaction guarantee: "If at any time a member is unsatisfied with your Membership, let us know and we will cancel your membership and provide a refund of the amount paid for your current year Membership fee."

Shannon Antinori contributed to this article

PHOTO CAPTION: A sign encouraging shoppers to use a Sam's Club phone app is displayed at one of the company's stores in Bentonville, Ark., Thursday, June 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)