500 Will Lose Jobs As 3 Sam's Club Locations Close

RENTON, WA - The Sam's Club stores in Renton, North Seattle, and Auburn will both close as part of a larger nationwide closure, the company said Thursday. Sam's Club said Thursday that 63 stores would close nationwide, the same day parent company Walmart announced raises for its employees.

About 500 people will lose their jobs when the stores close by the end of January, according to the company. The Renton store is the largest in terms of employees; 179 will be out of work there. The works will receive about 60 days of pay after the closures.

"After a thorough review of our existing portfolio, we’ve decided to close a series of clubs and better align our locations with our strategy. Closing clubs is never easy and we’re committed to working with impacted members and associates through this transition," the company wrote on Twitter.

According to Sam's Club, 10 of the shuttered stores will be turned into e-commerce distribution centers. But the company has not said whether that will happy to any of the Washington locations. Sam's Club operates 660 clubs across the U.S.

Estimates indicate some 10,000 people will lose their jobs due to the closures. Walmart, which owns Sam's Club, made news Thursday morning when it announced it would raise wages to $11 per hour to start and hand out bonuses based on seniority.

The Renton Sam's Club was not open Thursday, according to a phone message. The message said the store would open Friday. Down at the store, bewildered customers wandered up to the entrance only to be told by a security guard that the store was closed.

"Closed today, reopening tomorrow," he hollered as cars drove by the front entrance.

Photos by Neal McNamara/Patch