Reported rodent problem shuts down Chicago Walmart

A Chicago Walmart is closed after the store failed an inspection. A former employee says the reason is rats.

It’s the Walmart located at North Avenue near Cicero in the Hermosa neighborhood.

“It was especially prominent on the overnight shift because the store was quieter. And you could see on camera the rats going from the breakroom to the sink, then out onto the sales floor,” the former employee said. “It was very common to see rats throughout the day. At any given moment, even if we were talking to a co-worker in the back room, you could see, out of the corner of your eye, see a rat run past them.”

Walmart issued the following statement: "Our store on North Avenue is temporarily closed as we address a situation following a City of Chicago inspection. We have stringent quality standards in place and are working closely with the health department. We take this matter seriously and will reopen as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers."