Wal-Mart Pays For Its Own Economic Impact Study
July 13, 2010
You would think by now that local officials would know not to bother reading impact studies that are paid for by big box consultants —
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Wal-Mart Shrinks Store To Be More Efficient
July 11, 2010
In 2005, a developer in Porterville, California announced that he was bouncing Wal-Mart from his retail development. Porterville already had an existing Wal-Mart discount store
Weak Economy Puts Wal-Mart Superstore On Hold
July 11, 2010
There’s an empty parking lot in Manatee County, Florida that should have had a Wal-Mart superstore on it by now. But slow sales in the
City Council Gives Billionaire Walton-In-Law A Bailout
July 9, 2010
On July 7, 2010, one of the richest people in America was given millions in public welfare to build an unnecessary Wal-Mart. This “bailout for
Wal-Mart Called ‘Kiss of Death’ For Small Businesses
July 5, 2010
Wall Street investors like Steve Forbes often refer to the ‘creative destructionism” of capitalism. By that they mean that new retail projects often kill off
Wal-Mart Goes For Seventh Superstore in Houston
July 3, 2010
Houston, Texas has at least 15 stores within the city’s limits, including six supercenters. But since they love to do it up big in Texas,
Wal-Mart Arrives At Hearing With Court Stenographer
July 2, 2010
Wal-Mart came to a public hearing this week in Moon, Pennsylvania with an unusual weapon: a court stenographer. It seems the giant retailer knows that
D. Wal-Mart Gets Approval Near Mount Rushmore
June 29, 2010
Rapid City, South Dakota hosts more than 2 million visitors each year who come to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, the Badlands and the
Wal-Mart To Help City With Jobless Recovery.
June 26, 2010
Chicago is Wal-Mart’s kind of town. Chicago is the city of backroom deals, and in the case of Wal-Mart, there were deals being cut everywhere.
Wal-Mart Pulls Out of Blueberry Crossing
June 24, 2010
Another city has been jilted by Wal-Mart — but it only hurts for a little while. In November of 2008, Wal-Mart announced that it wanted
Wal-Mart Opens One Store, Shuts Down Another
June 20, 2010
Wal-Mart’s growth policy is a zero sum game. Open one Wal-Mart, and shut down another. That’s the Wal-Mart way, and no state knows that better
Wal-Mart On the Waterfront
June 19, 2010
The City of Aberdeen, Washington is located in Grays Harbor County on the southern edge of the Olympic Peninsula at the convergence of the Wishkah
Mayor Daley Keeps Getting It Wrong About Wal-Mart
June 17, 2010
On April 15, 2010, Sprawl-Busters reported that the battle lines had grown sharper over a plan to build a second Wal-Mart in Chicago — despite
After Two Years, Wal-Mart Still Trying to Hit Moon
June 13, 2010
Sprawl-Busters took a trip to Moon, Pennsylvania in June of 2008. A group of residents in this Pittsburg suburb were organizing to block a proposed
Crime At Wal-Mart More Than Urban Legend
June 13, 2010
On June 2, 2010, Kansas City, Missouri Police Chief James Corwin made an unusual entry onto his public blog. “You may have gotten an e-mail
City Council Poised To Vote on Bail Out for Walton Family Billionaire
June 10, 2010
On January 17, 2010, Sprawl-Busters reported that government bail outs were alive and well in Missouri — the ‘show me’ the money state. One of
Reversing the ‘Wal-Mart Effect’
June 9, 2010
Much has been written over the past twenty years about the “Wal-Mart Effect” — the devastating retail impact of big box stores on smaller merchants.
Supervalu Sues Wal-Mart Over Grocery Store Expansion
June 8, 2010
The largest grocer in North America, Wal-Mart, is being sued by the number 4 grocery chain, Supervalu, in what amounts to a nasty chain store
Big Box, Big Sky, And Big Empty Store
June 7, 2010
On December 2, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had Big Plans for Big Sky country. The Big Retailer is shutting down its “old” stores in
Farmers, Neighbors Continue Their Battle With Wal-Mart
June 5, 2010
The longest running battle against a Wal-Mart on one site has just gotten longer. On June 1, 2010, opponents of a Wal-Mart proposed for the
Wal-Mart Returns To Tucson Site After Defeat 11 Years Ago
May 31, 2010
Wal-Mart has eight stores located within Tucson, Arizona, including 4 of its smaller Neighborhood Markets, two discount stores, plus a superststore on North Valencia Road
Wal-Mart Returns Five Years After Defeat
May 27, 2010
Sprawl-Busters first heard from citizens in Monroeville, Pennsylvania back in June of 2005. They were organizing to fend off a Wal-Mart supercenter proposal. Three months
Eminent Domain Didn’t Work, But Wal-Mart Is Back Again
May 25, 2010
There’s a Wal-Mart superstore in Clinton, Utah. Six years ago this month, Sprawl-Busters wrote up the comments of the Police Chief in Clinton, who had
Citizens File Lawsuit to Stop Wal-Mart Superstore
May 21, 2010
Once again, Wal-Mart’s high-handed land use plans have run into legal trouble. Instead of getting ready to break ground in the city of Galt, California,
State’s Supreme Court Hears Appeal in Seven Year Wal-Mart Case
May 20, 2010
Wal-Mart’s seven year battle to build a supercenter on an old baseball field in Medford, Oregon has led to a high school auditorium, and a
Appeal Board Rejects Wal-Mart Superstore
May 18, 2010
Wal-Mart opponents in a small Canadian city have outlasted the world’s largest retailer, and scored a major victory against an unwanted superstore sprawl. But the
Appeals Court Approves Controversial Wal-Mart
May 16, 2010
On October 9, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had suffered a legal setback on Long Island, New York. The town of Riverhead, which already has
Wal-Mart Abandons Native American Superstore Deal
May 15, 2010
The last thing North Carolina needs is another Wal-Mart supercenter. A tribe of Native Americans in Cherokee, North Carolina was apparently the last to find
Wal-Mart Shells Out Another $86M In Wage Settlement
May 12, 2010
It’s a good thing that Wal-Mart’s corporate suits come with deep pockets, because the company has had to dig deep into its treasury to pay
Two Wal-Marts Awake After Five Year Sleep
May 9, 2010
A lot can happen in five years — or nothing at all. In Bakersfield, California, two half-built Wal-Marts can finally start to finish building —
Wal-Mart Reaches ‘Greenwashing’ Settlement with Environmental Groups
May 8, 2010
Wal-Mart has figured out that environmental groups that care about greenhouse emissions can be bought out with another kind of green. Just about one year
Judge Says Wal-Mart Battlefield Case Can Proceed
May 5, 2010
The first shot in a long legal battle over a superstore near a Civil War battlefield has hit Wal-Mart — but its just a superficial
Hazardous Dumping Charge Leads To Huge ‘Fine’ Against Wal-Mart
May 3, 2010
Wal-Mart found out this week it needs to be more careful about what it puts in its trash. The federal government has accepted a huge
Wal-Mart’s Worrisome Numbers
May 1, 2010
Shareholders are pouring over Wal-Mart’s 2010 Annual Report, which the company has posted online. Wal-Mart by the numbers raises a number of concerns for investors,
In this historic community that each year awaits the return of the swallows, there is much less enth?
May 1, 2010
In this historic community that each year awaits the return of the swallows, there is much less enthusiasm for the return of Home Depot developers
Wal-Mart Not Popular in Village-By-The-Sea
April 30, 2010
There are 20 Wal-Mart stores within 20 miles of Delray Beach, Florida, including a superstore 5 miles away in Boynton Beach. If residents don’t like
Wal-Mart has no qualms about pulling up local businesses by the roots. In the city of San Gabriel, W?
April 30, 2010
Wal-Mart has no qualms about pulling up local businesses by the roots. In the city of San Gabriel, Wal-Mart wants to plough under a 75
Wal-Mart Loses Bid To Expand Into Superstore
April 28, 2010
Wal-Mart got a great lesson in democracy this week, but its not a lesson they are going to like. On May 10, 2009, Sprawl-Busters reported
New York, NY. Wal-Mart Sales Slow, But Urban Warfare Quickens
April 25, 2010
It’s been a rough year for Wal-Mart. The giant retailer just announced its worst net sales increase in history — just a 1% increase over
Wal-Mart Now Has 12 Dead Stores In Ohio
April 23, 2010
This is the story of how a piece of land given to a YMCA that was supposed to remain in a natural state ended up
Wal-Mart Squeaks By With One Vote
April 22, 2010
The vote of just one person is going to fill more than 11 acres of land with a sea of asphalt surrounded by a wall
Morgan Stanley Downplays Wal-Mart’s Bite
April 21, 2010
Is it credible when Morgan Stanley says Wal-Mart’s impact on grocery stores is more bark than bite? In mid March, an analyst at Morgan Stanley
Mayor Threatens To Cut Off Water To Wal-Mart Project
April 18, 2010
Since the spring of 2004, activists in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, population 11,300, have been fighting a major retail development in their community anchored by
Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Kohl’s Tax Welfare Plan Rejected
April 17, 2010
One of the nation’s largest chain retailers, led by one of the nation’s largest developers, has had its request for a lucrative tax break turned
One of the nation’s largest chain retailers, led by one of the nation’s largest developers, has had ?
April 17, 2010
Is Wal-Mart venturing into stand up comedy? The Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart stores, Lee Scott, admitted to the BBC in a recent interview that
Wal-Mart Is Not The First Choice, But’
April 15, 2010
Officials are getting desperate in Chicago. Instead of community self-determination, local leaders are turning for relief to national chain stores. Wal-Mart supporters who want to
Neighbors Upset By Wal-Mart’s Plan For A 24/7 Superstore
April 13, 2010
On February 24, 2010, Sprawl- Busters reported that the city of Baltimore, Maryland could be getting its second Wal-Mart. Developers are hoping to build a
Wal-Mart Wants Expansion As Hugo Boss Shrinks
April 11, 2010
Nowhere else in America is the tradeoff between manufacturing jobs and low-wage retail jobs clearer than in the small suburb of Brooklyn, Ohio. Brooklyn, Ohio
Citizen Groups Blocked 47 Wal-Mart Superstores Last Year
April 10, 2010
A securities analyst for the Bank of America says Wal-Mart is spending $10 million a year in staff salaries and benefits to fight off union-based
City Begs Wal-Mart To Stay
April 8, 2010
They call them “the towns that Wal-Mart killed twice.” When Wal-Mart arrives in a small town, it often shows up with its suitcase already packed.
