Wal-Mart Back With The Same Unpopular Superstore Plan
January 9, 2009
Wal-Mart has seven supercenters in the state of Massachusetts, and 39 discount stores. The plan, over time, is for the company to either expand existing
Al Norman
Home Depot Gives Up the Fight
January 7, 2009
On November 11, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Home Depot was still smarting over a defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles City Council. Home
Officials Squabble Over Wal-Mart Superstore Plan
January 7, 2009
There was not a lot of inter-municipal diplomacy this week in the two small communities of Gloversville and Johnstown, New York. The city of Gloversville
Residents Organize To Fight Wal-Mart
January 7, 2009
A group called the Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association has organized in response to a Wal-Mart supercenter proposed for Northeast 134th Street beside the Holiday Inn Express
Planning Board Hands Wal-Mart A Tie Vote
January 6, 2009
Wal-Mart store #1930 sits on Plaistow Road in Plaistow, New Hampshire. Just seven miles away there’s Wal-Mart discount store #3491, and 8 miles away a
The 48 year old daughter of Sam Walton was found guilty on May 29th. of driving while impaired, fail?
January 4, 2009
The 48 year old daughter of Sam Walton was found guilty on May 29th. of driving while impaired, failure to wear a seatbelt, and failure
Citizen’s Court Appeal Against Wal-Mart To Be Heard This Month
January 4, 2009
Wal-Mart may have expected their proposal for a supercenter in Greece, New York to be greased — but because of some upset neighbors — a
City Offers Wal-Mart $10 Million Subsidy
January 3, 2009
It’s hard to believe that a company with nearly $13 billion in profits last year can convince city officials they need financial help — but
School Wants Second Chance to Sell Land To Wal-Mart For Supercenter
January 3, 2009
On December 14, 2008, Sprawl-Busters described the real estate deal that a public school system in Jackson, Michigan hopes will rescue its distressed budget. The
Police Report Says Wal-Mart Responsible For Trampling Death
January 3, 2009
This week the police in Nassau County, New York published a new plan designed to prevent the recurrence of a trampling death that took place
City Ordinance Has Left Wal-Mart on Hold
January 1, 2009
On September 28, 2005, Sprawl-Busters reported that a homeowner in Ripon, California had sent out this SOS: “Wal-Mart is currently quietly seducing our local officials
Wal-Mart Expansion Will Test New Informed Growth Law
January 1, 2009
Wal-Mart discount store #2143 is located on Fairgrounds Market Place in Skowhegan, Maine. There’s a Wal-Mart superstore 14 miles away in Waterville — which for
Wal-Mart Asks Town To Enter Mediation
December 30, 2008
On May 22, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had been rejected twice in the small town of Zionsville, Indiana (pop. 12,500). This is a community
Citizens Fight Costco Over Relocation Plan
December 28, 2008
Residents in Brookfield, Connecticut have organized to block the construction of a Costco warehouse store in their community. Brookfield is a small community (population roughly
The Music Stops At Store Next To Wal-Mart
December 28, 2008
If you haven’t shopped recently at your locally-owned music store, you may want to hurry up before it’s gone. Roy Lowdermilk probably thought that locating
Notwithstanding Lawsuit, Wal-Mart Continues Superstore Plan
December 27, 2008
Wal-Mart must be hoping that a lawsuit brought against it in a small Pennsylvania town will go away if they just ignore it. On September
City Wants Wal-Mart To Expand Existing Store, Not Build New Supercenter
December 26, 2008
In 2006, Wal-Mart approached the city of Lompoc, California to super-size its discount store. The current Wal-Mart store #1989 is located on West Central Avenue.
Wal-Mart Cancels New Superstore, To Expand Old Store Instead
December 24, 2008
Wal-Mart’s new strategy on superstores is playing itself out in a small city in California. Willows, California has a population of less than 6,300 people.
Wal-Mart Santa Settles 63 Wage & Hour Lawsuits.
December 23, 2008
‘Twas the settlement before Christmas. This one has to go down in the Guinness Records as a legal milestone. Wal-Mart has apparently decided to settle
Citizens Keep Up Five Year Battle To Prevent Wal-Mart Expansion
December 23, 2008
If there’s a middle ground in Tracy, California, Wal-Mart can’t find it. Wal-Mart wants to expand its store #2025 on W. Grant Line Road in
Wal-Mart Wants Three New Walls & A Facelift
December 21, 2008
Wenatchee, Washington is known as the “Apple Capital of the World.” But this city of roughly 30,000 people has some priorities that are more important
New Wal-Mart Supercenter Will Shut Down A Discount Store
December 20, 2008
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, located due south of Daytona Beach, already has a Wal-Mart discount store on State Road 44. There’s also a Wal-Mart superstore
Wal-Mart Chooses Renovation Instead of A New Superstore
December 20, 2008
Ten little words have made citizens in Copley, Ohio very happy. The headline in the Beacon Journal this week read: “There will be no Wal-Mart
New Wal-Mart Supercenter Will Create Another Dead Wal-Mart
December 19, 2008
The state of Wisconsin has seven dead Wal-Mart buildings on the market, and number 8 is well on its way. Sprawl-Busters reported in a February
Wal-Mart Blames Economy For Withdrawal Of Plans
December 18, 2008
City officials in Spooner, Wisconsin were spoon-feeding Wal-Mart — but it just wasn’t enough. This week, the giant retailer abruptly withdrew its dream of a
City, County Want To Convert Wal-Mart Land Into A Park
December 17, 2008
Wal-Mart has a great opportunity in Florida to show that it is an environmentally sensitive company. On November 22, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart opponents
Unbuilt Wal-Mart Displaces Mobile Home Park
December 16, 2008
Mobile home owners should be mobile. That seems to be the attitude at Wal-Mart. The retailer is not reluctant to build stores on the site
Wal-Mart Returns After 4 Years To Buy School Land
December 14, 2008
School departments should build schools and manage quality education — but not try to use publicly-owned land to act like real estate moguls. When school
Farming Families Win Five Year Battle Against Wal-Mart
December 14, 2008
On August 3, 2003, Sprawl-Busters reported on the unlikely plan for a Wal-Mart supercenter in Drumore, Pennslyvania, population roughly 2,400 people. Wal-Mart had chosen a
Wal-Mart ‘Dark Store’ Filled After 3 Years Empty
December 13, 2008
At any point in time, Wal-Mart has more than 200 dead stores on the market. These are buildings — more than a third of them
Mayor Gives Wal-Mart A One-Vote Margin
December 11, 2008
The Mayor of Lodi, California cast the critical vote in the early morning hours of December 11th to support the construction of a huge Wal-Mart
Environmentalists Prefer Little Eggs To Big Boxes
December 11, 2008
On May 1, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that the Big Box of the retail world wanted to come to the Little Egg. Wal-Mart was heading for
Wal-Mart Tries To Get Unstuck In Lodi Again
December 10, 2008
On October 8, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was getting desperate in Lodi, California. They have agreed not to leave their existing store empty if
Wal-Mart Sits Empty For Nearly Three Years
December 10, 2008
Wal-Mart suckers many communities into playing their game of retail musical chairs. The retailer opens up a new superstore, and closes down its existing discount
Canadian Union Gains More Footholds In Wal-Mart
December 10, 2008
It took four years of legal wrangling, but another Canadian Wal-Mart store has become unionized. The Winnipeg Sun reports this week that the Saskatchewan Labor
Wal-Mart Gets Smashed on Booze Proposal
December 9, 2008
Wal-Mart’s proposal to add a liquor license to its superstore in Macomb, Illinois got smashed this week by local residents. A full liquor license is
Wal-Mart Gets Off Light With $54 Million Settlement in Time Theft Case
December 9, 2008
One of the top-sellers at Wal-Mart this month is the Nintendo Wii Nurf-N-Strike Bundle, which you can pick up for $59.74. The first 908,102 customers
Wal-Mart Still Hiding After Two Years
December 8, 2008
On August 7, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that developer Louis J. Ceruzzi of Fairfield, Connecticut, had suddenly withdrawn his Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Conservation
Wal-Mart Superstore Runs Into Opposition
December 7, 2008
The City of The Dalles, Oregon, is located in the north-central part of the state on the scenic Columbia River. It is the Wasco county
More Mayem & Death At Wal-Mart
December 6, 2008
Florida resident Patrick Donovan, 53, died over $393 in Wal-Mart merchandise, lying face down in the giant retailer’s parking lot last week. The media reported
Herculean Effort Overpowers Wal-Mart
December 5, 2008
Hercules has defeated Wal-Mart. It took more than two years to accomplish, but this week the retailer was pinned to the mat. On December 2,
Mayor Takes Key Vote To Kill Wal-Mart Plan
December 4, 2008
On June 11, 2008 Sprawl-Busters reported that a controversial Wal-Mart superstore proposal in Cudahy, Wisconsin had initially been rejected by the city’s Planning Commission, but
Wal-Mart Slashes Superstore to 99,000 S.F.
December 3, 2008
Once again, Wal-Mart has been cut down to size. Roughly a year ago, on December 1, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a local citizen’s group in
Big Sky Country, or Big Box Country?
December 2, 2008
Wal-Mart is moving big time into Big Sky country. Unfortunately, all the company is doing is shutting down its “old” stores, and replacing them with
Cleaning Up After Dead Wal-Mart Hypermarket
December 2, 2008
Big stores leave big eyesores. That’s what has happened in Garland, Texas, where Wal-Mart and a private developer teamed up to build a prototype of
Waiting For Wal-Mart To Reward Dead Worker’s Family
November 30, 2008
“Outta My Way, I’m shopping at Wal-Mart.” That actual bumper-sticker sums up the attitude of the only thing worse than Wal-Mart in our culture: Wal-Mart
Council Rejects Wal-Mart Plan, Appeal Set for January
November 30, 2008
Anti-Wal-Mart activists in Stratford, Ontario had good news to share this week. On November 7, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart Canada, after three years of
Wal-Mart Seeks To Build At Site of Ames It Killed
November 28, 2008
On July 15, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that the village of Ellenville, New York was fighting a ‘secret’ Wal-Mart. Ellenville describes itself as “cute” and “one
Court Mulls Wal-Mart After Six Year Battle
November 26, 2008
On September 30, 2002, Sprawl-Busters reported that a Tennessee developer had run into a WAL of questions in the community of Abingdon, Virginia. According to
Another City That Wal-Mart Killed Twice
November 24, 2008
There are 30 properties owned by Wal-Mart Realty in Louisiana that are for sale or lease. For some reason, the discount Wal-Mart store on Highway