Walmart, Sam’s Club In Austin Area To Require Masks

AUSTIN, TX — Walmart joined a growing list of retailers Wednesday in announcing shoppers will now be required to wear protective face coverings before entering stores. The requirement applies to Walmart’s 5,000-plus U.S. stores and includes Sam’s Club locations, officials said.

The requirement goes into effect Monday, July 20, the company said.

There are just more than a dozen Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations in the Austin area.

Walmart is the largest retailer in a growing list of store chains issuing blanket policies requiring mask use by customers. On Tuesday, Best Buy announced it would start requiring masks in all stores. A similar mandate went into effect at Starbucks on Wednesday, and Costco has required masks since May.

While details of the new policy are still being ironed out for Walmart stores, according to The New York Times, the company said Sam’s Club will provide complimentary masks to customers who don’t have them.

In its statement, Walmart said that 65 percent of its stores currently are in areas where there is already some form of government mandate to wear masks.

In addition to posting signage at the front of stores, Walmart has created the new role of "health ambassador," who will be stationed near the entrance to remind those without a mask of the new requirements.

Here are the Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in the Austin area:

• Walmart Supercenter, 2525 W. Anderson Lane
• Walmart Supercenter, 1030 Norwood Park Blvd.
• Walmart Supercenter, 12900 Interstate 35 service road southbound.
• Walmart Supercenter, 710 E. Ben White Blvd.
• Walmart Supercenter, 5017 W. Highway 290.
• Walmart Supercenter, 13201 Ranch Road 620 North.
• Walmart Supercenter, 9300 S. Interstate 35, Suite B.
• Walmart Supercenter, 2701 S. Interstate 35, Round Rock, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 11923 U.S. Hwy 290 East, Manor, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 1548 FM 685, Pflugerville, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 201 Walton Way, Cedar Park, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 2801 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 4700 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 620 South Interstate 35, Georgetown, Texas.
• Walmart Supercenter, 3701 N. Main St., Taylor, Texas.