Voters Face Cap on Big Box Stores In June
April 5, 2010
On January 27, 2009 Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was proposing a zero sum game in the city of Redlands, California. The retailer approached city officials
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Wal-Mart Proposes ‘Revolutionary’ Smaller Store
April 2, 2010
Wal-Mart is hoping that officials in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania will accept the giant retailer’s definition of ‘small.’ When Wal-Mart shrinks the size of a store
Village Gives Wal-Mart $4 Million Welfare Deal
April 1, 2010
Wal-Mart often arrives in a community looking for a handout. The company would prefer to talk about the small financial handouts it gives to local
The Kind of Analysis Wal-Mart Hates To Read
April 1, 2010
From big cities like Chicago, to small towns like Galt, California, local officials are so economically illiterate that they think a new retail building going
Council To Vote On Wal-Mart Plan On April 6th
March 31, 2010
After more than a year of controversy, the Borough Council in Exeter, Pennsylvania will vote next week on a Wal-Mart superstore. Roughly a year ago,
Planning Commmission OKs Wal-Mart, Appeal Likely
March 28, 2010
On March 24th, Sprawl-Busters reported that a Wal-Mart supercenter was headed towards a key vote by the Planning Commission in Galt, California. Like most cities,
State Environmental Agency Turns Down Wal-Mart Superstore.
March 27, 2010
A state environmental board in Maine has refused to allow a Wal-Mart developer to withdraw its palns for a supercenter, and residents in Bangor, Maine
Wal-Mart Tries Again To Squeeze Under Size Limit
March 24, 2010
The city of Galt, California is perhaps best known for the Galt Market, which began as a farmer’s market at the old Sacramento County Fairgrounds
Snakes Beat Wal-Mart Again
March 23, 2010
Wal-Mart got another rejection slip in Toms River, New Jersey this week. For five years, Wal-Mart has been battling local residents in Toms River and
Wal-Mart Tries to ‘Donate’ Its Way into Town
March 21, 2010
On November 19, 2009, Sprawl-Busters reported that the city of Milpitas, California was embroiled in a Wal-Mart controversy that could have been avoided. Wal-Mart decided
Ugly Target Gets Approval in ‘Ugly Process’
March 20, 2010
On April 6, 2007, Sprawl-Busters introduced a project called the “East Washington Place,” a large development in Petaluma, California, situated between the Sonoma County Fair
All Blacks Should Leave The Store
March 20, 2010
Police in the small New Jersey community of Washington Township today announced at a dramatic noon press conference the identity of the person who had
Wal-Mart’s Seven Year Battle Far From Over
March 19, 2010
On June 24, 2003, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had been given a second chance in Gainsville, Florida. After being rejected on May 27, 2003 by
Wal-Mart Struggles With Immigration Raid Rumors
March 17, 2010
Some Hispanic groups are calling for a month-long boycott of Wal-Mart stores in order to put added pressure on the retailer to support immigration reform,
No Roll-Back in Crime At Wal-Mart
March 16, 2010
Wal-Mart can be counted on to consistently produce everyday crime in its parking lots — and even inside its stores. The world’s largest retailer has
You Don’t Need Miss Marple To Solve Mystery Of Why Residents Oppose Wal-Mart
March 14, 2010
The township of Marple, Pennsylvania is located in the heart of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, just southwest of Philadelphia. The county is literally choking with Wal-Marts
Wal-Mart Superstore Suffers Setback By Silence
March 3, 2010
It appears that Wal-Mart is down for the count in a small Pennsylvania community, after local officials dealt them a silent blow to the head.
Wal-Mart Exposed for “Outdated & Sexist” Hiring Practices
March 2, 2010
More bad headlines for Wal-Mart, the sexist employer. The company was nailed again by its own employees — this time in Kentucky. In Wal-Mart’s Annual
Wal-Mart Returns With A 98,000 S.F. Superstore
March 1, 2010
On January 31, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that citizens in Ventura, California were trying to get their elected officials to clamp down on superstore development. To
Fiscal Impact Study Shows Big Box Stores Net Loser for Town
February 28, 2010
A fiscal impact analysis prepared in July, 2002 for the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts concludes that big box retail is a financial loser for the
More Legal Papers Fly in Longest Wal-Mart Battle
February 26, 2010
In what has been billed as the longest continuing big box battle over one piece of land, the Wal-Mart fight in St. Albans, Vermont —
Wal-Mart Plans Superstore On Top Of Lowe’s
February 24, 2010
The city of Baltimore, Maryland could be getting its second Wal-Mart — a 93,000 s.f. supercenter that will be located in a rather unusal place.
Wal-Mart Superstore Still Tied Up By Opponents
February 21, 2010
On September 11, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that citizens in Ontario, California were battling a Wal-Mart supercenter. There are 19 Wal-Marts within 20 miles of Ontario,
Wal-Mart Store Sits Empty’Thanks To Wal-Mart
February 21, 2010
Wal-Mart has 44 properties for sale in Wisconsin, including 9 buildings that are sitting empty. Of these 9 properties, 3 are over 100,000 s.f. The
Citizen’s Group Forms to Fight Off Wal-Mart Superstore
February 17, 2010
A group of roughly 30 Holyoke residents gathered this past week to form a citizens’ group that will challenge a proposed Wal-Mart superstore on Whitings
Commissioners OK Second Wal-Mart Store
February 17, 2010
Wal-Mart already has a superstore on Old Boynton Road in Boynton Beach, Florida. There are 16 Wal-Mart stores within 20 miles of Boynton Beach, including
Shaw’s Grocery Chain Implodes in Connecticut
February 13, 2010
The Shaw’s supermarket on Whalley Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut is closing down. It’s one of 18 stores that are being sold off by Shaw’s
Wal-Mart Superstore Still Stuck in Lodi After Nearly Seven Years
February 13, 2010
Sprawl-Busters first wrote about Wal-Mart’s troubles in Lodi, California on August 28, 2004. At that time, crime was on the minds of local residents. Lodi’s
Supervisor Says Rezoning For Wal-Mart Won’t Happen
February 11, 2010
Wal-Mart’s efforts to get a special rezoning deal for a project in New York state isn’t going over well with the locals. On June 1,
Residents Go To Court To Stop Target ‘Fiasco’
February 10, 2010
On April 6, 2007, Sprawl-Busters introduced a project called the “East Washington Place,” a large development in Petaluma, California, situated between the Sonoma County Fair
Wal-Mart Wants Dead Home Depot Expo Site in Silicon Valley Site
February 8, 2010
One company’s demise is another company’s opportunity. It looks like Wal-Mart knows the way to San Jose. There are already 8 Wal-Mart stores within 20
Town’s Wal-Mart Will Steal Benefits From Neighboring Town
February 7, 2010
On April 1, 2009, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was playing the community of Johnsburg, Illinois off of McHenry, Illinois. According to the Northwest Herald, Wal-Mart
Developer Promises Big Box Store Is Not A Wal-Mart
February 6, 2010
There’s a dirty eight letter word in Carlsbad, California that gets people upset. Developers in Carlsbad are careful not to use the word “Wal-Mart” when
Wal-Mart Trying To Keep Out The Snakes
February 2, 2010
For five years, Wal-Mart has been battling local residents in Toms River and Manchester, New Jersey. Not only are they fighting with people in these
Wal-Mart Finally Ready to Build Smaller Superstore
January 31, 2010
Wal-Mart already has six supercenters in Austin, Texas, a city with more than 758,000 people. But when the giant retailer proposed to build a 7th
Legal Detail Ties Two Anti-Wal-Mart Battles Together
January 31, 2010
Two communities on the opposite ends of New York state have been linked together by a legal detail that could topple the largest retailer in
Wal-Mart Abruptly Cancels Superstore Project
January 30, 2010
Suddenly, without any advance notice, Wal-Mart has pulled out of a planned superstore project in the town of Evans, New York, which is located in
After waiting a year and a half to have their day in court, the Friends of Placer County (CA) Commun?
January 28, 2010
After waiting a year and a half to have their day in court, the Friends of Placer County (CA) Communities, Inc. has finally been given
Anti-Wal-Mart Group Rises Up To Battle Superstore
January 28, 2010
In September of 2009, residents of the small communities of Warrenton and Astoria, Oregon got a big surprise. The Warrenton community of roughly 4,500 people
Environmental Court Oks Wal-Mart’With Strings
January 24, 2010
One of the longest running Wal-Mart battles in America made headlines again this week. A Vermont developer is shelling out millions in road upgrades and
Eminent Domain Power Used To Build A Road For Wal-Mart
January 22, 2010
Very few people like the notion of eminent domain — but when the government decides to ‘take’ private land — they should have a really
Wal-Mart Supercenter Runs Into Traffic Speedbump
January 20, 2010
On August 21, 2009, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart’s cover was blown in Powhatan County,Virginia — and the response from neighbors was predictable. Powhatan County has
Wal-Mart Breaks Promise To Hire Local Construction Workers
January 18, 2010
Local labor leaders in the Godfrey, Illinois area have sent the Rat Patrol over to the construction site for the new Wal-Mart supercenter. Building trade
What Happens To Dead Wal-Marts
January 17, 2010
On January 29, 2009 — just about a year ago — Sprawl-Busters reported that Haywood, North Carolina officials had a big hole to fill that
Draft Environmental Report On Wal-Mart Distribution Center Finally Released
January 17, 2010
The bigger they come — they harder they fall. In August 2005, Wal-Mart announced that it wanted to build an enormous distribution center in Merced,
Walton Family Billionaire Seeks Public Bail Out
January 17, 2010
Government bail outs are alive and well in Missouri — the ‘show me’ the money state. One of the Walton family members on the Forbes
City Council Votes To OK Wal-Mart A Second Time
January 12, 2010
Fool me once — shame on you. Fool me twice — shame on me. The City Council in The Dalles, Oregon didn’t understand the first
New Study Says Wal-Mart Creates No New Jobs
January 10, 2010
When Wal-Mart opened its only store in Chicago, Illinois on the west side of the city, the retailer said, “This store will show what a
Voters Reject Target Project
January 7, 2010
It took more than three years, but the voters in Eagle, Colorado finally got the chance to clip the wings of a huge, big box
Three Years After Defeat, Wal-Mart Tries Again
January 6, 2010
On November 6, 2006, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had proposed to expand its store in Antioch, California, by 72,980 s.f. to create a 203,103 s.f.
