Two Central Illinois Walmart stores to be remodeled

CHARLESTON — The Walmart Supercenter stores in Charleston and Urbana will soon be renovated as part of a large-scale rebranding initiative by the company. A spokesperson for Walmart confirmed the news via email Thursday afternoon.

Several Illinois stores, including locations in Champaign and Shelbyville, have already undergone renovations. More than 650 Walmart stores across the country will be remodeled this year. The store’s new design intends to have a more modern and upscale aesthetic with a redesigned layout and brighter color schemes and fixtures.

The stores will feature technology such as energy-efficient equipment and lighting, interactive displays, and electric vehicle charging stations. The company intends to build 150 supercenter stores or convert existing ones into supercenters over the next five years. The company also confirmed that there are no current plans to build new stores in Illinois.

Walmart currently has 161 stores in Illinois, first opening in the state in 1977 after acquiring Mohr-Value stores. The concept of a supercenter with groceries and expanded merchandise was introduced in 1988, with the first supercenter opening in Washington, Miss.

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Jacob Hamm

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Jacob Hamm covers a wide variety of topics across Central Illinois, such as protests, artistic and cultural events, local economic development, and the occasional column.

The Decatur, Ill. native is a 2023 graduate of Richland Community College (AA, Journalism) and a 2025 graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA, Broadcast Journalism). He returned to Eastern Illinois in the fall of 2025 to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies.

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