Wal-Mart Cuts Projected Growth In Half
October 25, 2007
It turns out that Wal-Mart is its own worst enemy. The retailer has been eating itself for years — and now has to protect itself
Al Norman
Wal-Mart Still Battling Two Years, Eight Months Later
October 24, 2007
With clear sailing, a Wal-Mart permitting process can be done in three months or less. But in many communities, local citizens groups have slowed Wal-Mart’s
Cap On Superstores Size To Be Refiled
October 23, 2007
Is Hawaii’s Big Island becoming a Big Box paradise? There are five counties in the state of Hawaii, and big box controversy has boiled over
Opponents Challenge Wal-Mart On Women’s Safety Issues
October 22, 2007
Sprawl-Busters has written for years that one of the most dangerous places in America is a Wal-Mart parking lot. A superstore attracts more than shoppers.
Lawsuit By Blind Reveals No Vision At Target
October 21, 2007
For almost two years, the Target corporation has been the legal target of the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) over access to its website
Wal-Mart Files Second Lawsuit After Town Rejection
October 20, 2007
Wal-Mart has more lawsuits than men’s suits. The retailer proposed to build a 24/7 superstore on 36 acres of land in Davie, Florida. The project
Wal-Mart’s Superstore Plans ‘On the Shelf.’
October 20, 2007
There are 5 Wal-Marts within 25 miles of Oxford, North Carolina, including three supercenters, and one discount store right in Oxford. The supercenter in Henderson
Wal-Mart Gets Rolled Back On Initial Vote
October 19, 2007
On June 28, 2005, Sprawl-Busters printed a plea for help from a resident in Stratford, Ontario. “Dear Friends in the Cause,” he wrote, “I am
Neighbors Object to Wal-Mart Supersize Me Plan.
October 18, 2007
Wal-Mart officials were in Derry, New Hampshire this week, talking to town officials about building a 208,000 s.f. supercenter. The company unveiled a site plan
Wal-Mart Still Doing ‘Knee-Jerk Import Buying.’
October 17, 2007
Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, launched a program in 1985 called “Bring It Back Home to the U.S.A.” He said the program was in
Wal-Mart Contract Glitch Stops At Pearly Gates
October 15, 2007
There are 11 Wal-Mart’s within 20 miles of St. Peters, Missouri. The supercenter in Wood River, Illinois is only 5 miles away — and St.
Neighbors Find Living Next To Wal-Mart Like A Living Hell
October 13, 2007
Do good walls make good neighbors? Mayor Virginia Hillman of Sherwood, Arkansas must be feeling somewhat embattled this month. Hillman describes the town she lives
Residents Ask for Boutiques, Not Big Boxes
October 13, 2007
None of the literature about Venice, Florida mentions a Wal-Mart supercenter. The tourist pamphlets say the proverbial “Venice Florida offers something for everyone,” including beautiful
Only 19% Want More Wal-Marts.
October 10, 2007
A new nationwide survey released this month says that only 19% of Americans think their hometowns have too few “large discount or warehouse stores such
The Sun Sets On Wal-Mart’s Superstore Plans
October 10, 2007
Wal-Mart continued its series of plug-pulling events across America, as it announced last week the sun would never rise over its planned 3rd store in
‘We kicked their ass,’ Says Victorious Wal-Mart Opponent
October 6, 2007
On January 30, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a hearing officer in Vancouver, Washington had ruled in favor of a Wal-Mart supercenter, but the neighbors appealed
Wal-Mart Pulls Project Off The Table’For Now
October 5, 2007
On June 19, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was getting a wet reception in Portland, Oregon, where a Canadian developer has tried to sneak the
Effort to Recall Anti-Wal-Mart Council Members Fizzles
October 1, 2007
On November 13, 2006, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart suffered a political setback in Atascadero, California in a City Council election. Voters supported Planning Commissioner Ellen
Wal-Mart Surprised When Planning Commission Supports Size Cap
October 1, 2007
On September 18, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that the City Council in Galt, California was reviewing a proposed zoning ordinance that would ban any retail stores
Wal-Mart Back On Agenda After Extended Delays
October 1, 2007
Lockport, New York already has a Wal-Mart, so the town is basically being asked to swap the smaller store for a larger supercenter. The proposed
Workers Say Wal-Mart Is A Dirty Word
September 30, 2007
Last week, Wal-Mart announced that it plans to invest $100 million to expand its operations in Argentina in 2008. This new investment is on top
City Manager Calls Wal-Mart A ‘Black Hole’ To Local Businesses
September 28, 2007
On July 31, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had signed a lease on an existing K-Mart location in Ventura, California. Wal-Mart began talking with city
Wal-Mart Proposal Upsets ‘Lovely Small Town.’
September 28, 2007
Wellsville, New York promotes itself as “a lovely small town in the heart of the Allegheny Hills.” This village says its “nestled in the foothills
Wal-Mart Plans Officially Buried Under Landslide
September 26, 2007
Another Wal-Mart supercenter bites the dust — literally. Wal-Mart’s dreams of a superstore for Kilbuck township, Pennsylvania, are now officially buried under tons of earth.
Village Board To Vote On Wal-Mart On Industrial Land
September 25, 2007
On May 12, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that the Newman Development Group had announced a proposed Wal-Mart superstore on Lester Avenue in Johnson City, New York.
Residents Start Petition to Battle Wal-Mart
September 25, 2007
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania is an 1.3 square mile area within North Whitehall Township. Schnecksville is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in Lehigh Valley, with a population
Furniture Store Objects to Wal-Mart Plan
September 24, 2007
Usually retailers are silent on the subject of Wal-Mart. In one small New Jersey town, a furniture store is speaking up, but its concerns may
Environmental Staff Report Slams Home Depot Project
September 23, 2007
The California Coastal Commission has nailed Home Depot’s plans to build a 128,517 s.f. store in East Long Beach, California. According to the Long Beach
Half-Built Pair of Wal-Mart Supercenters Finally Restarted
September 23, 2007
Wal-Mart’s long, twisted journey in Bakersfield, California may soon be over. It wasn’t the way Wal-Mart wanted, and they have lost as much as one
Residents Say Wal-Mart Will Destroy Way Of Life
September 23, 2007
On August 3, 2003, Sprawl-Busters reported that City planning commissioners in Clovis, California had voted 3-1 for preliminary approval to a zoning change that would
Procedural Hoops & Hurdles Drag On For Wal-Mart
September 21, 2007
Four years and counting. That’s the sad story for a Wal-Mart supercenter proposal in the city of Medford, Oregon. The city council eventually approved the
Wal-Mart Suddenly Pulls Out Of Another Project
September 20, 2007
The folks in Bentonville, Arkansas are acting more mercurial than ever: Here today, gone tomorrow. The company seems to have a hair-trigger decision-making process when
Wal-Mart’s ‘Mountain Lodge’ Theme Store Still A Monster
September 19, 2007
It’s “smaller” than their usual superstore — and it won’t say “superstore” over the entrance. But the bitterly-fought Wal-Mart supercenter in Woodland Park, Colorado, which
City Mulls Cap on Size As Wal-Mart Approaches
September 18, 2007
There are four Wal-Marts within 19 miles of Galt, California, a community whose motto is “planning for the future.” According to the Lodi News-Sentinel, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Distribution Center Sues County Over Taxes
September 16, 2007
Arcadia, Florida is a city of roughly 7,000 people in DeSoto County. It has miles of orange groves, and pastures, but the largest building in
Wal-Mart Makes ‘Rare’ Decision To Withdraw
September 15, 2007
After more than 15 months of bitter controversy, a proposed 187,000 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter in rural Lancaster, Massachusetts is now dead. Wal-Mart has terminated its
Wal-Mart Fires Worker Over Photos of Managers
September 14, 2007
At Wal-Mart, one of the key personnel mantras is “respect for the individual.” One Wal-Mart worker once told me, “I’m sure Wal-Mart respects the individual
Developer Self-Destructs Wal-Mart Project–For Now
September 13, 2007
On April 24, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a Wal-Mart supercenter project in Concord, California, called the Jones Ranch Project, was floundering. Concord is 29 miles
Staff Recommends Against Wal-Mart Superstore
September 13, 2007
On December 12, 1999, Sprawl-Busters reported that residents of Bonita Springs, Florida had hammered Home Depot right where it hurts. The world’s largest home improvement
Wal-Mart Puts Lipstick On A Pig
September 11, 2007
On January 20, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that residents in Ontario, California were organizing to fight a Home Depot project. Now they’ve got a second big
Small Town Passes Big Box Cap
September 10, 2007
On May 5, 2007 Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had filed an application to build a superstore on top of a former coal ash landfill in
Wal-Mart Denies Its Expansion Plans
September 8, 2007
Swansea, Massachusetts is a small community of roughly 16,000 people in southeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Barrington and Warren, Rhode Island, on the west and southwest,
Business Group Says Wal-Mart Not Good For Downtown
September 8, 2007
This week it was announced that Wal-Mart wants to expand its footprint in the city of St. Thomas, Ontario. St. Thomas, a city of 36,000
Wal-Mart Refuses To Pay For Road
September 7, 2007
Wal-Mart hit another speed bump this week in Clinton, Michigan. On August 10, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart’s lawyer was threatening to take the township
Court Favors Citizens In 6 Year Battle Against Wal-Mart.
September 6, 2007
After almost six years of trying to build a store near Marvin, North Carolina, in Union County, Wal-Mart now finds itself between a court and
Law to Limit Superstores in Paradise Under Review
September 5, 2007
There’s trouble in paradise for the likes of Wal-Mart and Target. For most Americans, Hawaii conjures up beautiful beaches and far-away paradise. But the paradise
Developer Says Wal-Mart Superstores Are Not Regional Facilities
September 4, 2007
Whatever it takes. That’s what developer Mike Hargis is prepared to say and do in order to build a 184,000 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter on U.S.
Wal-Mart Workers Threaten Strike In England
September 4, 2007
A Wal-Mart administrator was recently quoted as saying that the only Wal-Mart workers who think about unions are unhappy associates. There must be lots of
Welcome to the New City of WaldoMart?
September 3, 2007
The community of Wildomar, California is an unincorporated community that wants to become California’s newest city. For its main attraction the future-city wants to be
Couple Sues To Halt Wal-Mart’s Noisy Construction
August 31, 2007
Wal-Mart talks a lot about being a “good neighbor,” which sounds good to anyone who has never been their neighbor. But for one couple in