Two suburban Walmarts to get 'extensive' remodeling

Walmart stores in Elk Grove Village and Vernon Hills are among 16 in Illinois that will undergo an extensive remodeling this year, company officials announced Wednesday.

Walmart expects to spend an estimated $87.5 million this year in Illinois remodeling the stores and launching new pickup and delivery services.

The suburban stores are at 801 Meacham Road in Elk Grove Village and 555 E. Townline Road in Vernon Hills.

The remodelings include adding free grocery pickup and delivery services and Walmart Pickup Towers, 16-foot tall vending machines that can fill a customer's online order in less than a minute once he or she arrives at the store.

Other store improvements include automated floor scrubbers and new, automated delivery truck unloaders, the company reported.

"We're committed to giving our customers the best experience both in store and online, and that starts with making it easy to shop how and when you want," said Walmart Vice President and Regional General Manager Dale Murphy.

The estimated $87.5 million being spent in Illinois is a portion of Arkansas-based retailer's total of about $11 billion allocated for capital improvement over the next year.