Wow there is a lot of opinion on this thread!
I shop at Walmart almost exclusively because of being able to get just about everything in one place and the prices. Personally, I am not impressed with the quality of their fabrics for quilts.
Walmart, like every other corporation is not run by people who make their own clothes. They probably don't even go shopping for themselves. So the person who likes or needs to sew is an alien idea to them. I doubt they will keep fabric departments open unless it really hurts their bottom line more than 2%. That's just how it goes. We have to move on and find other places to meet our needs.
Also, I wanted a Walmart wind breaker jacket last fall, but the tag said it was made in Afghanistan, and I put it back. I was really mad that they would buy from that, or any middle-eastern country during this time of war.
I think if you have a good fabric store in your area, you should do your part to keep it in business (as much as is reasonable for your budget.) I know that the one in my area, which is a well kept secret, would devastate the local quilters if it went out of business. They have special discounts the first half of every month for one particular color, and also discount to quilt guild members.
We have to appreciate JoAnn's or Ben Franklin's or whatever we have, and maybe write them thank you letters so they don't get the same idea as WalMart and Hancock's.
Shop for fabric online. I have found the fabrics to be just as good as quilt shops and less expensive. They also have return policies if I don't like it when it arrives.
We do have lots of options, with computers available and the mail. And if you live far from a good fabric shop, maybe your friends/guild members could organize a carpool trip and make a ladies day out?