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I-Team: Official says sudden Walmart closing was suspicious
ABCactionnews ^ | Apr. 16,2015 | Adam Walser

Posted on 04/17/2015 7:42:14 AM PDT by FR_addict

BRANDON, Fla. - Walmart stores across the country suddenly closed Monday, supposedly as a result of plumbing problems.

Now a Hillsborough County commissioner who has worked closely with the company for years says he has plenty of questions.

In Midland, Texas, which, until Monday, was home to one of the 10 busiest Walmart stores in the country, City Building Official Steve Thorpe told the I-Team his plumbing inspector was sent away when he visited the closed store and offered to help secure permits.

While the company claimed to have an average of 100 to 150 plumbing issues a year in recent years, a longtime employee of a tax service located in the store told the I-Team she never saw a plumber or an "out of order" restroom in the three years she worked inside the store.

...At the Brandon Walmart Monday night, a five-hour, unadvertised going-out-of-business sale was held after employees were informed the store would be closed for at least six months for plumbing and other renovations.

The store pays more than $243,000 a year in Hillsborough County ad valorem taxes and collects many times that amount in sales tax revenues.

The store appeared to have been fully stocked with perishables when the sudden closure was announced. ... The I-Team has learned no plumbing permits have been pulled in any of the five cities where the stores were suddenly closed for at least six months.

Permits in Midland show 70 plumbing fixtures were just replaced in an eight-week period three years ago.

That store never closed during that renovation.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist says Walmart officials didn't even mention plumbing issues when they reached out to him, informing him of the closure which affected more than 400 workers. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at abcactionnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: closings; walmart; walmartplumbing; walmartstores
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UPDATE: No plumbing problems can be found by investigative reporters.
1 posted on 04/17/2015 7:42:14 AM PDT by FR_addict
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To: FR_addict

I’ll bet it has something to do with those environmentalist wacko urinals. Everything commie libs touch ALWAYS turns to sh*t.


2 posted on 04/17/2015 7:44:35 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Just Say NO To Hillary.)
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To: FR_addict
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3279515/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3279667/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3278906/posts

It's hard to believe it's plumbing problems.

3 posted on 04/17/2015 7:45:35 AM PDT by FR_addict (Boehner needs to go!)
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To: FR_addict

I wonder if the issue in these stores was much bigger than plumbing and would expose the stores to lawsuits if revealed. Thus, the plumbing cover story.


4 posted on 04/17/2015 7:45:43 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: FR_addict

You know that great raise that Walmart gave their employees? They really couldn’t afford it. FedGov talked them into it and now there are repercussions. Please report to layaway for your pink slips. Have a nice day.


5 posted on 04/17/2015 7:45:45 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: FlingWingFlyer

When I was renovating my business, I wanted to put a water fountain in...

But was told if I put a regular one in, I would have to also put a lower handicapped one in too.

Well.. I didn’t want to pay for two water fountains, and since I wasn’t required to have one to begin with just decided not to put ANY in.

Thanks big government!


6 posted on 04/17/2015 7:47:19 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, & R)
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To: FR_addict
And at least one of the stores was one of the 10 busiest in the country.
7 posted on 04/17/2015 7:47:41 AM PDT by FR_addict (Boehner needs to go!)
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To: FR_addict

What’s the alternate theory? That this is some sort of anti-labor ploy? That they’re covering up some health-code violation?


8 posted on 04/17/2015 7:48:57 AM PDT by dangus
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To: FR_addict

It sounds like money problems with Walmart and they are using the fake story of “plumbing problems” to hide the issue!

Walmart closed one in Tulsa, too.


9 posted on 04/17/2015 7:50:15 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: FR_addict

They can open or close as they please.

Why does everything have to be a conspiracy these days?

People have lost their minds.


10 posted on 04/17/2015 7:51:21 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Life is good.)
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To: FR_addict

I’m starting to think that either there was a very toxic, hazardous shipment of something from China, or that there were terrorist actions. This looks like a decontamination deal.


11 posted on 04/17/2015 7:51:25 AM PDT by Lazamataz (The FCC takeover of the internet will quickly become a means to censorship of dissent.)
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To: dangus

One type or another? Just because it is busy doesn't mean it is making money.

12 posted on 04/17/2015 7:52:53 AM PDT by Loud Mime (Honor the Commandments because they're not suggestions; don't gamble on forgiveness.)
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To: SaxxonWoods
They can open or close as they please.

Right. But what major corporation turns down profits and adds huge shut-down and start-up expenses without good reason? I am curious as to the reason.

Why does everything have to be a conspiracy these days?

Because there are numerous conspiracies in action.

13 posted on 04/17/2015 7:53:10 AM PDT by Lazamataz (The FCC takeover of the internet will quickly become a means to censorship of dissent.)
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To: FR_addict; JoeProBono; dfwgator
BRANDON, Fla. - Walmart stores across the country suddenly closed Monday, supposedly as a result of plumbing problems. Now a Hillsborough County commissioner who has worked closely with the company for years says he has plenty of questions. In Midland, Texas, which, until Monday, was home to one of the 10 busiest Walmart stores in the country, City Building Official Steve Thorpe told the I-Team his plumbing inspector was sent away when he visited the closed store and offered to help secure permits.

While the company claimed to have an average of 100 to 150 plumbing issues a year in recent years, a longtime employee of a tax service located in the store told the I-Team she never saw a plumber or an "out of order" restroom in the three years she worked inside the store....At the Brandon Walmart Monday night, a five-hour, unadvertised going-out-of-business sale was held after employees were informed the store would be closed for at least six months for plumbing and other renovations.

SEATTLE–After a decade of aggressive expansion throughout North America and abroad, Starbucks suddenly and unexpectedly closed its 2,870 worldwide locations Monday to prepare for what company insiders are calling "Phase Two" of the company's long-range plan.

"Starbucks has completed the coffee-distribution and location establishment phase of its operation, and is now ready to move into Phase Two," read a statement from Cynthia Vahlkamp, Starbucks' chief marketing officer. "We have enjoyed furnishing you with coffee-related beverages and are excited about the important role you play in our future plans. Please pardon the inconvenience while we fortify the second wave of our corporate strategy"....

....More insight into Phase Two was provided by the company's most recent quarterly stockholders' report, which features a map of North America showing the location of every existing Starbucks. Lines drawn between the various stores form geometric patterns across the U.S., including five-pointed stars, Masonic symbols, and, in the Seattle area, the image of a gigantic Oroborous serpent wrapped around an inverted ziggurat.
-- Starbucks To Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' Of Operation


14 posted on 04/17/2015 7:53:15 AM PDT by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: circlecity

I went into a Lowes here in California the other day and noticed that all the toilets, urinals and connecting plumbing were brand new. I know that the enviro-wackos here have been constantly reducing water flow requirements such that we bought a floor sample of a German toilet last year at 80% off because it would be illegal to sell it the next month.


15 posted on 04/17/2015 7:56:01 AM PDT by Stayfree (FLUSH HILLARY OR WE ARE DOOMED!!!!)
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To: circlecity
I wonder if the issue in these stores was much bigger than plumbing and would expose the stores to lawsuits if revealed. Thus, the plumbing cover story.

Chinese drywall? Do all these stores work out of the same warehouse? It's not lack of customers... it doesn't seem to be plumbing... and a lie is easy to catch if someone's looking... People are looking now...

I think you're right circlecity... it's bigger.

16 posted on 04/17/2015 7:58:30 AM PDT by GOPJ (Hillary Candidacy Like "Weekend At Bernie's" they'll have to keep proppering her up - H.Hewitt)
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To: FR_addict; All

I drove into Midland yesterday afternoon and made a point of checking out the Northside Walmart store. The two Midland and the other area Walmarts here in the oil patch are always very busy and I am sure very profitable for the company.

Anyway, there were NO PLUMBING OR CONTRACTOR VEHICLES VISIBLE IN FRONT OR BACK OF THE NORTHSIDE STORE.

I have heard that the pay in the Midland stores STARTS at 14 dollars an hour. Some think that they want to get rid rid of these salaries and then reopen at lower pay levels.

Is there some kind of labor law pay reg where a six month time factor would figure in?


17 posted on 04/17/2015 7:59:19 AM PDT by Rockpile
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To: FR_addict

More than likely to do with labor. The unions are trying to unionize Walmart employees. Perhaps shutting some stores down, and putting some people out of work is sending a signal to NOT ONLY the unions of just how powerful too BIG is.


18 posted on 04/17/2015 7:59:54 AM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: FR_addict

My aunt was the manager of Target. She said she had to shut down the Target in North Minneapolis (Ghetto) because the shoplifting was so great.

I wonder where these are located.


19 posted on 04/17/2015 8:00:19 AM PDT by MNDude
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To: Star Traveler

I’m of the opinion that the one in Tulsa will never re-open due to its high profile with TPD and the internal issues of shrinkage. I’m very dubious of the “plumbing issues” story. I’d especially like to hear from somebody with internal knowledge, like suppliers and how they were told to handle the leftover merchandise. Example, was the beer guy called in to pick up that inventory for re-distribution to other stores? When was the beer guy notified?

How about the perishables like milk and bread? The $$$ value of the on-shelf inventory in just one store has got to be huge...


20 posted on 04/17/2015 8:01:48 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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