Wal-Mart closing dazes Arkansas town

WALDRON -- The sign outside Waldron Drug offers a helping hand to the stunned residents of this small Arkansas town facing the unsettling news that the local Wal-Mart store is closing next month.

"Welcome Walmart customers."

Inside the store, pharmacy manager Ed Humphrey and his staff were busy filling prescriptions as several residents sat patiently in the waiting area Tuesday. A couple of days earlier, Humphrey said he spent part of Father's Day extending the space to prepare for the influx of customers who were moving their prescriptions from Wal-Mart. He removed one display to open up the space, put in extra carpet to fill bare spots and moved in a few more chairs.

"I'm putting in extra hours," Humphrey said. "But I told my boss, 'I guess it's the health care professional coming out in me.' These people are shell-shocked. So if they can walk in here and know I can take care of them, that's a pretty good reward in my eyes."

Wal-Mart shook the Waldron community earlier this month when it revealed plans to shutter the store July 14, saying the decision was based on a review process that considers a number of factors like financial performance and its strategic alignment with the company's long-term plan.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/25/wal-mart-closing-dazes-town-20170625/