Pana
The now vacant Walmart lot in Pana, Illinois. December 2018.
Daisy Contreras/NPR Illinois

Illinois Issues: When Walmart Leaves Town

Two small towns in rural Illinois recently lost their Walmart stores -- more than three decades after the retail giant came in and pushed out mom and pop shops. Now, the communities have lost convenience as well as major property and sales tax revenue. Some see it as an opportunity to revitalize main street, while others are not so optimistic.

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