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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Those late-night excursions to Walmart are now a thing of the past, as the store in the Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace will no longer be open 24 hours a day.

Brian Nick, spokesman for Walmart, explained that as of Monday, the new store hours will be from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The store is one of roughly 40 that is doing away with a 24/7 schedule nationwide.

In Pennsylvania, stores in Mount Pocono, the Philadelphia Metro area and West Mifflin have also adjusted their hours.

Nick said the change came about based on an analysis of shopping patterns. Store employees will use those couple of hours overnight to use resources “in the best way possible”, according to Nick, to ensure the store is in good condition during operating hours.

“During those few hours overnight, we’ll use the opportunity to reallocate resources, to ensure the store is in great shape, to be open bright and early in the morning,” Nick said.

While roughly 40 stores have change their hours so far, Nick added that “more stores are expected to reduce hours in the coming weeks and months.”

Customers react

For Todd Davis, the change of hours meant little in terms of his shopping habits.

“None whatsoever,” Davis, 43, of Wilkes-Barre said when asked in the change of hours would affect his shopping trends

“I really don’t like to come here after that,” Davis said. “It’s normally a little creepy.”

While Nick said safety and security issues did not play a role in the decision, the store in the Wilkes-Barre Township Market place has seen its fair share of criminal activity, especially during the overnight hours.

Rebekah Jannuzzi, 24, of Parsons, is also a shopper at the store in Wilkes-Barre Township. Jannuzzi said the change “kind of stinks” as those who many need to make a late night run would need to wait until the next day.

She also said that when she worked a late shift that late night trips were the norm, and the change might create an inconvenience for those that still have those shifts.

Since she is no longer on a late shift, the change also had little effect on Jannuzzi.

“It is what it is,” she said.

Cars are seen parked at the edge of the Walmart Super Center lot in Wilkes-Barre Township.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_walmart.jpg.optimal.jpgCars are seen parked at the edge of the Walmart Super Center lot in Wilkes-Barre Township.

By Travis Kellar

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Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews