Video: Wal-Mart Closing Affects City And Residents

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DERMA, Miss. (WCBI)- Earlier this morning, Derma learned its Wal-Mart is shutting down.

For the small Calhoun County town, the retail giant brings in a large amount of its sales tax revenue.

Residents said  the store is a big convenience. They can shop for their groceries, get their gas, or fill their prescriptions

“This is devastating to our community, we don’t have a lot that comes through,” Derma resident Stephen Faddock said.

Faddock is one of many Derma residents shocked at the news that their hometown Walmart will close.

“It provided additional jobs and an extra shopping option,” Derma resident David Mitchell said.

“We didn’t have to drive to other cities, other counties to do our shopping, we could keep it right here locally,” Faddock said.

“With Walmart being gone, we’ll have to travel to the neighboring city of Calhoun City or we’ll either have to travel 8 miles to Vardaman,” Derma town clerk Deenen James said.

Residents said Walmart was one of the city’s biggest revenue generators. That’s why many are still wondering why it’s closing.

“Wal-Mart informed me this morning that it’s a corporate decision,” James said.  “They admitted to us that Derma is making money, but in the grand scheme of things, when they add it all up, the numbers just didn’t fit so it was a corporate decision to pill all of the neighborhood markets.”

The store, which employees more than 40 people, hasn’t even been open for a year.

However, Walmart ensures it will assist employees in finding another job.

“Well I think it’s the least they can do,” Faddock said. “They brought them people in with the promise of a job and a future, and a career, and now a year later they’re looking down the barrel of not having a job and I think it’s important that Wal-Mart gives them some sort of stipend, and its important they give them some sort of job training to move on in the work force.”

Desperate shoppers want to keep the store in their town, but it appears the decision has already been bagged.

“From my understanding, from talking to the corporate office, there’s nothing we can do,” James said.

The Wal-Mart building in Derma is now for sale.

The store will officially close on January 28th.