78,000 sf Walmart coming to SoWal [opening June15]

[passin thru]

Other than Ace Hardware, who else do you think is in jeopardy? John John I guess. Nobody I can think of on 30-A.

How about Sundog Books, the record store? Eastern Supply? Frank's hardware? Publix?

 

[scooterbug44]

Yet for all the vitriol I wonder how many of us own stock in Wal-Mart (knowingly or otherwise) or have stock in companies that depend on Wal-Mart to turn a profit?

Actually I specifically check any fund to make sure it does not include Wal-mart. If it does, I won't buy it. Stockbroker thinks I am nuts, but IT MATTERS TO ME.

I put my money where my mouth is - yes, things cost more at other places, but I believe in the extras that higher price is buying for my neighbors, my community, and my planet.

Every time you pay for something you are deciding the world you want to live in - and I think the world I want to live in is well worth the price I am paying.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Word on the street is that another Publix and McDonald's to be built near the intersection of 331/20. Wish the would build the WM there. I don't see us needing another Publix in the area, 4 withing 15 miles is enough. There are more Publix than Tom Thumbs in the area.

That is more than word on the street, at least the Publix part. Publix has actually been approved by the City of Freeport to build south of 331/20.

Walmart has been heavily courted by Freeport as well, but at this time, there has been no announcement of them opening in Freeport.

Not to worry about the Tom Thumbs. They were approved earlier in the year to build another store in Freeport to balance out the extra Publix. ;-) The new Tom Thumb will be just on the north side of the bridge on the east side of the road. Trees have already been cleared from the property, but no other site work has been completed at this time. Should be a busy location.

 

[Matt J]

How about Sundog Books, the record store? Eastern Supply? Frank's hardware? Publix?

I'd bet you any amount of money you won't find a single title from Sundog in a Wal-Mart with the exception of a current best seller. Have you seen the book section in a Wal-Mart? It's stocked mostly with magazines, followed by children's books, and finally paper back soft core porn for housewives. Sundog's inventory is completely different.

Again the record store is going to carry things you will never find at Wal-Mart; i.e. uncensored albums, local bands, and anything not considered main stream.

Read over the posts again, this store will either be all food or all merchandise with very limited food. It's not big enough for both.

Find the following items at a Wal-Mart and I'll address your concerns about Franks:

- Any type of screw, bolt, or nail that isn't used for hanging pictures or repairing a loose deck board.
- Any type of wood product; 2X4's, plywood, etc.
- Pipes that are used for something other than sink traps or connecting a water supply to a toilet or sink.
- A key copy that works.
- A door lock that can be rekeyed by the staff.

The list goes on and on. Many local companies aren't going to leave Franks because they have a charge account there and don't have to deal with credit cards, cash, or checks. Wal-Mart doesn't do local charge accounts. Further many bulk items such as light bulbs, batteries, a/c filters, etc. are generally purchased in bulk from suppliers or companies such as Home Depot Supply.

I'm no fan of Wal-Mart and they did have the past reputation of killing small town businesses. However they have shrunk their inventory in many departments to expand departments that won't affect local businesses. Remember when the fabric/sewing department was about 1/5th of a Wal-Mart tucked in the back. Today it's an aisle. Automotive used to carry things you needed, today there's a better selection of plastic rims, glue on air vents, and pine scented air freshners than head lights.

Wal-Mart doesn't kill local businesses, the people who abandon them kill them. Continue shopping at local stores and it won't be a problem. As scooterbug said, the extra money you spend at a local retailer stays in the community and generally comes back to you 10 fold. You might save at Wal-Mart, but that money doesn't stay here. Even the wages Wal-Mart pays generally go right back to them since employees get a discount, thus spending money at the company store.

 

[Matt J]

Disclaimer: I just realized that I am a stock holder of Wal-Mart. I would like to disclose that I have 0.623 shares in an old E*Trade account. I don't think I can even sell that small of a share so it'll just sit there. Maybe my distant future relatives will ride high on the splits one day.

 

[passin thru]

Wal-Mart doesn't kill local businesses, the people who abandon them kill them. Continue shopping at local stores and it won't be a problem. As scooterbug said, the extra money you spend at a local retailer stays in the community and generally comes back to you 10 fold. You might save at Wal-Mart, but that money doesn't stay here. Even the wages Wal-Mart pays generally go right back to them since employees get a discount, thus spending money at the company store.

I mostly agree with what you say, SWGB.

I guess I was simply glad that the big-box stores were as far from 30a as they presently are, in Destin & on Back Beach Rd. I didn't need, or want, them to be any closer.

 

[SHELLY]

Actually I specifically check any fund to make sure it does not include Wal-mart. If it does, I won't buy it. Stockbroker thinks I am nuts, but IT MATTERS TO ME.

...what if the fund includes Pepsi, Coke, J&J, Kimberly-Clark, Smuckers, Pfizer, Kraft, Philip-Mo, Unilever, Mattel, Sony, Apple, Heinz, Clorox, ConAgra, McDonalds, Nintendo, Microsoft, ...etc., etc. All these companies and many, many more contribute much to Walmart's bottom line.

The same people who register surprise that Walmart has come to town will probably be equally surprised when McD and others of their ilk move in too. JOE will be more than happy to accommodate all comers with cash in hand and JOE's lapdogs will, like the bobble-heads they are, nod in agreement.

.

 

[scooterbug44]

It is difficult to cut Wal-mart out completely as it's almost impossible to find a company that doesn't do any business in some way with Wal-mart.

Which is why I just banned any Wal-mart stock or fund from my portfolio and bought stock in Target.

And try to buy as many things as possible directly from the producer/artisan.

 

[Iris]

I had clients and contacts in many small Kentucky towns, and every time a Walmart opened up on the edge of those towns, those downtowns died. Then after 10 years or so, the Walmart decided it needed a "bigger and newer" place or needed to be a "Super Walmart" and it leaves it's ugly shell behind to devastate the ugly strip mall and the local businesses that sprang up around it. Your experience in the Garden District was maybe a more urban phenomena, but I have seen nothing but bad for the local businesses of rural areas when a Walmart sets up shop right in the middle.

I saw the exact thing in middle Louisiana. It was quite sad.

 

[Iris]

There goes the pucking neighborhood! :angry:

Buckle up folks, you are about to find out just why I HATE Wal-mart so much!

Haven't even built the damn thing and they already want variances for giant signs and bold colors.

P.S. Kudos to St. Joe for making it happen.

St. Joe cares only for what is good for St. Joe. If they cared for this community they would not have opened up so many developements at the same time that were way to big for the area. How about one at a time, let's see how it goes, and then maybe another one.

I know this should be a different thread but I just had to get it out. And I will answer your questions/statements now. I have not been hurt by St. Joe, but I do see so many other people that have.

Wal Mart and St. Joe are a lot alike. Just think about it.