Walmart Neighborhood Market on Orange Avenue to close this month

ROANOKE, Va. – The Walmart Neighborhood Market on Orange Avenue is closing later this month, according to a Walmart spokesman.

The decision to close the store at 3419 Orange Ave NE is based on a number of factors, including financial performance, according to Phillip Keene, the director of corporate communications for Walmart.

A paper is taped to the door of the store that reads, "This Walmart location is closing January 30, 2018."

Keene said that the company hopes that the majority of the approximately 75 associates who work at the Roanoke store will want to continue their career with Walmart by transferring to another nearby store.

For those who use the location's pharmacy, Keene said the pharmacy staff will work with customers to transfer prescriptions to another convenient location as soon as possible.

A father of four kids who lives nearby says he was shocked to learn his grocery staple was closing down. 

"I hate the fact that it's closing because it's right up the street from our house. We come here all the time, it's just really convenient," said Brian Russell.

Walmart opened this store in 2015.