Wal-Mart to Open Mini-stores?
You may have read a few months ago that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is mulling over the idea of opening smaller stores — as small as 20,000 sf or about one tenth the size of its supercenters, to be called “Neighborhood Markets” — as a means of penetrating urban markets and jump-starting growth. (Article)
No surprise, since big-box stores have reached a point of saturation, encountering greater resistance from smaller communities who see them as eyesores that squash competition and force neighborhood stores out of business. Many communities have become increasingly aggressive in their fight against megastores and some, as shown in the photo below, have taken creative steps to express their anger when one is built in their neighborhood…
Doug
Apparently, the City of Galt, California just passed an ordinance banning big-box stores over 140,000 sf that also sell groceries (not sure why the last part was added.) But on the Big Island of Hawaii, a similar attempt to ban such stores went down in flames. Sad.
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Blight is right! They built one about 10 years ago near us and the neighborhood went to hell after that. We had to move. I don't know why, but box-stores attract a lot of the wrong people, not to mention they are an eyesore! I'm glad people have spoken up trying to protect their neighborhoods.
I agree, I hate them too! They drive down property values and are glaringly ugly. Yet I have found myself shopping in them sometimes if I'm looking for cheap stuff (Be honest, we all want some cheap crap sometimes!) But if there were no big-box stores, I'd do fine elsewhere. And the neighborhood would be more attractive.
It isn't just box stores, it happens with malls too. They build one and the neighborhood goes to pot after in 10 years or so. Must have something to do with people wanting to live closer to the mall I guess. Don't understand it, but that seems the way it goes.
I can't believe someone would have the brass ones to put up this sign!! Somebody buy them a beer!!
Too bad about Hawaii. I will miss the relaxed, happy Islands. I heard that they are also putting a Disneyland there in 2011. It will be just another LA!
They aren't so bad when they are in a big, nice shopping center with nice stores and in a big neighborhood. But in small town America, they are the worst. I'm glad to see people speaking out against them.
You have a new one in your area, don't you?
Yes, we do, Terry. In fact, it just opened in Town Center (EDH). Dawn and I dropped in over the weekend to pick up a few things and were surprised there weren't more people shopping. We parked at the door, got what we were after, checked out quickly and were on our way in record time. Of course, that won't last. But it was a pleasant surprise.