Fern Park, Fla. — Dozens of Sam's Club locations across the country abruptly closed for good Thursday without any warning to staff or customers.
The Fern Park location is also scheduled to close.
“I feel disappointed with Sam's, Walmart and the way they're doing this,” said shopper Lenny Mendoca.
Mendoca has been shopping at the Fern Park Sam's Club since 1991.
“For a buck 61 you get a hot dog and a soda, but we do all our shopping here,” he said.
But not Thursday, when he pulled up to the store and saw signs telling him the store is closed.
“I just renewed my membership,” he said.
Restaurant owner Peter Rosinola's shopping trip was also cut short too, by the same sign. It will now change his business plan.
“It was convenient for me to run down here to short order on things like milk and soda, so yeah, it's going to have an impact,” said Peter Rosinola.
Shoppers are most disappointed for the families of those who work here.
“They're without jobs. They come in to go to work, they've got families to feed,” said Mendoca. “I’ve been shopping here for years and I don't think they had a clue that this was happening to them.”
Elsewhere, a Memphis Sam's Club location closed its doors in an announcement made to employees Thursday morning.
The store was not the only one. Reports indicated that more than 60 stores were closed in at least two dozen states, including Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Washington, Georgia and Florida.
Cox Media Group
