Paul Aiken, Daily CameraBene Ramirez, left, and her sister Juanita shop for goods at Walmart in Boulder during the store grand opening on Oct 2, 2013. The company announced May 23, 2017 that it would close the store due to Boulder’s highly competitive retail environment and the rise of online shopping. The mega-retailer Walmart on Tuesday announced plans to close its Boulder outpost, a Neighborhood Market concept, less than four years after opening. Company spokeswoman Anne Hatfield said the decision was motivated by the changing nature of retail, including the shift to online shopping. Hatfield said axing the Boulder store was an “isolated event” — no other closures are planned at this time.