Pretty much everyone has heard of Walmart, right? As the largest retailer in the world, the Walmart corporation has a strong hold on brand recognition.
But Walmart Neighborhood Markets were introduced by the company just a few years ago, so many people might still be wondering what these stores are.
Originally introduced into the Walmart universe in 2015, Walmart Neighborhood Markets offer a smaller, simpler alternative to the infamously large Walmart Supercenters.
Focusing on groceries, pharmacy items, and other household basics, Walmart Neighborhood Markets are Walmart’s answer to a traditional grocery store.
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Walmart Neighborhood Market Locations
As of January 2022, there were 799 Walmart Neighborhood Market locations across the United States.
Walmart Neighborhood Market hours vary by location, but most stores open at either 6 AM or 7 AM and close between 10 PM and 11 PM.
Why Are They Closing Walmart Neighborhood Markets?
Beginning in 2016, Walmart began closing hundreds of locations across the US, including both Supercenter and Neighborhood Market locations. In 2019 alone, the company closed down 8 more Neighborhood Market locations.
But why exactly is Walmart closing down their stores?
When it comes to Walmart Neighborhood Market, the company has shared that the niche store originally introduced in 2015 hasn’t performed as well as they’d hoped.
Walmart is struggling to figure out what consumers want, and it seems that their Walmart Neighborhood Market experiment hasn’t unfolded as planned.
As of 2022, Walmart is continuing to close more locations every year and has also stopped opening any new store locations.
To see a list of some of the Walmart locations that have been closed over the past few years, check out this report from the Wall Street Journal.
Differences Between Walmart And Walmart Neighborhood Market
The biggest differences between Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market are their size and the types of items they sell.
Walmart Neighborhood Market is significantly smaller than Walmart, often appearing in towns and city centers rather than rural or suburban areas like Walmart.
While Walmart Supercenter is considered a big box store that sells almost every category of product you can imagine, Walmart Neighborhood Market is essentially just a standard grocery store.
Here is a list of all the major differences between these two types of stores:
- Size – Walmart Neighborhood Market is significantly smaller than Walmart.
- Products – Walmart Neighborhood Market sells groceries and other basic items while Walmart Supercenter sells everything under the sun.
- Locations – Walmart Neighborhood Markets are often located in densely populated urban areas while Walmart Supercenters are usually located in rural and/or suburban areas.
- Prices – Due to being a more specialized store often located in areas where grocery prices trend higher, Walmart Neighborhood Market tends to be a bit more expensive than Walmart Supercenter.
Some of the benefits of shopping at Walmart Neighborhood Market include:
- They’re usually conveniently located within walking distance from neighborhoods, city centers, and other places where customers can easily commute to the store without even needing a car
- The smaller size of these stores makes them much easier to navigate, especially for customers who are only needing groceries
- They’re typically less crowded
Is Walmart Neighborhood Market More Expensive?
Considered a more specialized store often appearing in locations with less direct competition, Walmart Neighborhood Market prices are typically higher than prices found at Walmart Supercenter.
Most items found at Walmart Neighborhood Market can be found for less at Walmart. However, Walmart strategically places their Neighborhood Market locations to serve specific populations less likely to seek out Walmart Supercenter locations.
What Can You Buy Here?
As we’ve mentioned, Walmart Neighborhood Market offers a much smaller variety of products than a standard Walmart. But there is still plenty to find at Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of things you can expect to find at Walmart Neighborhood Market:
- Fresh produce
- Packaged foods
- Dry foods
- Canned goods
- Dairy and eggs
- Meat and fish
- Over-the-counter and prescription medications
- Greeting cards
- Stamps
- Flowers
- Alcohol (where permitted)
- Tobacco products
Walmart Neighborhood Markets do not sell:
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Appliances
- Furniture
- Auto parts
FAQs
Do they have pharmacies?
Yes. While there may be some rare exceptions, most Walmart Neighborhood Market locations have pharmacies.
Do they have a photo center?
No. Walmart Photo Centers can only be found at Walmart Supercenter locations.
Can you cash checks at these locations?
Yes. All Walmart locations allow customers to cash checks.
Do they sell alcohol?
This depends on where you live. If your state allows grocery stores to sell alcohol, then Walmart Neighborhood Market locations in that state are almost certain to sell beer and wine. In some states, these locations might even be permitted to sell liquor.
Can you return Walmart items to Walmart Neighborhood Market?
Yes. However, if you are returning general merchandise items not sold at Walmart Neighborhood Market, you might be asked to take your items to a Walmart Supercenter location instead.
Conclusion
Walmart Neighborhood Market is a smaller and more specialized version of Walmart, serving as a grocery store and often appearing in more densely developed areas like cities. W
hile Walmart Supercenter offers a wide range of products such as electronics, clothing, and appliances, Walmart Neighborhood Market sticks to groceries, pharmacy items, and other items typically found in grocery stores.
Unfortunately, due to general under-performance of some locations, Walmart has been closing many of their Neighborhood Markets and Supercenters over the past six years.
