British ColumbiaThe location on B.C.’s North Coast has been closed for several weeks following damage to building.Store served shoppers who travelled from remote communities with limited budgetAndrew Kurjata · CBC News · Posted: Sep 29, 2025 5:28 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoThe Walmart in Prince Rupert, B.C., pictured here on Sept. 29 2025, has permanently closed. (Sumi Ragu/CBC)Walmart has permanently closed its doors in Prince Rupert, B.C.The store had been temporarily closed since July 30 due to concerns about its building but in a Facebook post Monday, the company said the closure will now be permanent, “effective immediately.””We know how much the community valued this store and while this is not the outcome we hoped for, this decision was only made after a full review of options.”The store’s closure has had an impact on many people in the community, particularly low-income shoppers or those who make bulk purchases as there are few similar options available in the North Coast city, which also serves remote Indigenous communities.The next closest Walmart location is in Terrace, B.C., 144 kilometres away along a highway that winds between the Skeena River and the Coast Mountains without a passing lane.Daybreak North7:07Prince Rupert Walmart closureCustomers concerned after North Coast location closed for nearly 3 weeksDispute with mall managementThe exact reason for the original closure has been unclear since July 30 when the Facebook page for the Rupert Square Mall, which houses the store, posted a photo of a sign indicating the Walmart was temporarily shut down.”Dear Prince Rupert, I saw this coming to work this morning. Please contact Walmart as there was no communication with the mall,” the post reads, attributing the statement to “management.”A Facebook post from July 30. (Facebook)Later that same day a second post clarified that all other stores in the mall were open.The following day, the Facebook page for Walmart in Prince Rupert issued a post stating, “The safety of our customers and associates is a top priority. As a result, we’ve temporarily closed the store to assess the need for repairs.”No information about the nature of the needed repairs, nor a timeline for reopening, were provided.The closure followed a May 27 incident in which the sidewalk outside Rupert Square Mall collapsed, forcing a closure, but the mall and the Walmart reopened the next day and Rupert Square said all safety concerns had been addressed.Walmart turned down requests from CBC News to clarify what safety concerns they had, and only posted one other update, in mid August, restating the importance of safety for customers and employees.Then, on August 29, a person crashed their hatchback vehicle into the Walmart building following a medical incident.Impact on communityMeanwhile, the impact of the extended closure was a hot topic in Prince Rupert. The community of approximately 12,000 people also acts as a service centre for coastal and island communities.Wendy Nelson of the Gitxaala First Nation said many First Nations members in remote regions will take long ferry rides to Prince Rupert to stock up on several weeks worth of supplies at a time, on a limited budget.”Just to get into Rupert and to stay at a hotel on a weekend is over $500,” she said. Add the ferry and freight costs and being able to buy in bulk was a vital service for many.That message was echoed by Kim St. Pierre, who helps run an animal rescue organization in Prince Rupert.She said being able to buy bulk pet food and supplies at Walmart, rather than at other grocery stores with higher prices, provided savings of hundreds of dollars.Without the local Walmart, she said, there were additional costs and logistics associated with trying to get their high-volume orders.While some shoppers have been able to move on to other stores or make the drive to Terrace, for those without vehicles or lower budgets, the closure has been a real challenge, Nelson said.Walmart Canada has still not provided information on what prompted the decision to close for safety reasons, but in its post on Monday it said the closure “led to a larger review of the store location and operations and our long-term plans.”For those who use the Walmart pharmacy, the store said, complimentary delivery from Terrace would be available, or customers can transfer their accounts to a local provider.CorrectionsThis story originally said the Walmart had been closed since August. It has been updated to correct the closure date to July.Sep 29, 2025 5:33 PM EDTWith files from Sumi Ragu
Walmart permanently closes doors in Prince Rupert, B.C.
