Home Depot Finally Gets OK by 1 Vote
November 9, 2005
For years Home Depot has tried to break into the City by the Bay, but political resistance to big box stores had previously nailed them
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Citizens Win Right To Challenge Wal-Mart in Court
November 8, 2005
Residents in Edgewood, New Mexico were unwilling to let their town officials bend the rules for Wal-Mart, and its developer, Fonterra Development. When citizens legally
Voters Easily Reject Target, Lowe’s Plan
November 8, 2005
One of the largest retail developers in New England suffered a major setback Tuesday when voters in Agawam, Massachusetts rejected two ballot questions placed by
Residents Want Closer Look At “New Look” Wal-Mart Superstore.
November 7, 2005
Residents in Aurora, Illinois are organizing their troops to fight off a newly proposed Wal-Mart supercenter that developers say will have a “new look.” Here’s
‘Leave A Cart’ Campaign At Wal-Mart
November 7, 2005
Activists in Fairbanks, Alaska are engaging in a little Saul Alinsky type organizing. To show their true feelings about Wal-Mart, Fairbanks residents are going to
Wal-Mart Creates Another Phony Citizens Group
November 7, 2005
The small town of Boonville, Missouri, population 8,200, has had a Wal-Mart discount store since 1985. When it was built, it was an out of
Illegal Workers No Surprise to Wal-Mart
November 7, 2005
An affidavit unsealed 5 days ago in Fayetteville, Arkansas by a U.S. District Court Judge confirms that Wal-Mart knew that it had illegal workers cleaning
Wal-Mart Workers In Missouri Gain Class Action Status
November 3, 2005
Wal-Mart has yet another legal headache to add to its growing litigation problems. A Circuit Court Judge in Jackson County, Missouri this week granted class
Nearly 48% of Voters Don’t Want Wal-Mart
November 2, 2005
There is no other retailer in America that comes close to the negative ratings that Wal-Mart gets at the ballot box. Last night in Westminster,
Residents Not Fooled By ‘Lifestyle’ Wal-Mart
November 2, 2005
The Parish Zoning Commission in Covington, Louisiana listened for two hours to debate over a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter, and then voted 9-0 to table the
Wal-Mart Promises A New Policy For Siting & Constructing Stores
November 1, 2005
Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott said last week that his company “didn’t get where we are today by being like everyone else and driving the middle
Wal-Mart Becomes Two Time Loser.
November 1, 2005
On August 30, 2005, Sprawl-Busters predicted that Wal-Mart would lose its appeal of a Gresham, Oregon City Planner’s decision to deny a Wal-Mart supercenter application.
Planning Commission Denies Home Depot–For Now.
October 28, 2005
On September 25, 2005, Sprawl-Busters reported that one of the oldest homes in Nashville, Tennessee, the Evergreen Place, had been demolished by an overeager developer,
Home Depot Still Hasn’t Cracked City By the Bay
October 27, 2005
Three and a half years ago, on May 1, 2002, Sprawl-Busters reported that Home Depot had been repeatedly rejected in San Francisco. “After six years
Why Do We Need Wal-Mart To Come?
October 27, 2005
Last week representatives of Wal-Mart were in India, meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee. The retailer wants to open stores in Kolkata. During
Wal-Mart Wants Healthy Workers Who Don’t Stay Long
October 26, 2005
Are you in good physical shape, and looking for a job that will last a year or two? Consider the benefits of working at Wal-Mart.
Too Lovely For A Wal-Mart
October 26, 2005
The scenic coastal town of Damariscotta, Maine is really too picturesque for a Wal-Mart supercenter, but nobody in Bentonville seems to know that yet, as
Double-Crossed in LaCrosse
October 26, 2005
Residents in LaCrosse, Wisconsin are feeling star-crossed these days, with a new Wal-Mart on two sides of the city. They are starting a campaign to
Wal-Mart Promises Wall Street 280 New Supercenters
October 25, 2005
Like a whirling dervish that has to keep spinning faster and faster to maintain its balance, Wal-Mart is trying to keep up its growth image
Wal-Mart Offers New Swiss Cheese Health Care Plans
October 25, 2005
The business media this week swallowed whole a story cooked up by Wal-Mart’s “kindler, gentler” PR team that the giant retailer will be offering its
Another Town Wal-Mart Killed Twice
October 25, 2005
Today’s Huntsville Times, Alabama opinion column narrates the story of another town that Wal-Mart killed twice — once on the way in, and again on
Residents Say Two Wal-Marts Not Fair in Fairbanks
October 23, 2005
Wal-Mart is planning to build its biggest supercenter prototype in Fairbanks, Alaska, and even residents in this enormous state are upset by the enormity of
Wal-Mart Goes After Another Historic Home
October 21, 2005
Wal-Mart seems to have a special affinity for historic places. They like to tear them down. Latest case in point comes from Streetsboro, Ohio, where
Residents Hammer Away At Lowe’s
October 21, 2005
Some residents of Westlake Village, California think that a home improvement store will not improve their community. They have been fighting off a Lowe’s store,
Don’t Take the Lowe’s Road
October 21, 2005
Residents in the Western Massachusetts community of East Longmeadow don’t want to take the Lowe’s road. A citizen’s group called East Longmeadow First has formed
Residents Aiming For Second Victory Over Wal-Mart
October 19, 2005
Wal-Mart is that bad retail penny that keeps turning up — in the same place. Citizens in Tallahassee, Florida have filed the following report: “In
Residents Say ‘No Big Box, No Way!’
October 19, 2005
Sprawl-Busters reported last week that residents in the Lake Highland area of Dallas, Texas are drawing a line in the Texas dirt against Wal-Mart. He’s
Residents Upset by Home Depot Plan
October 12, 2005
The town that stopped Wal-Mart from buying up one of its last farms, now has a Home Depot to contend with — and neighbors are
Residents Gear Up For Lake Highlands Wal-Mart Battle
October 10, 2005
Texas has more Wal-Marts and more dead Wal-Marts than any state in the union — and some residents have had enough. The latest dust up
Coconut Grove Releases Anti-Home Depot Film.
October 9, 2005
Residents of the Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami, Florida have put their battle against Home Depot onto film. The world premiere of “Don’t Box Me
Wal-Mart Rezoning Put On Hold
October 9, 2005
Residents in Smithville, Tennessee report that Wal-Mart is trying to put a superstore right on their front door — on land that is not properly
Wal-Mart Has An Image Problem Here
October 9, 2005
Wal-Mart apparently wants South Florida — but does South Florida want Wal-Mart? According to an article in today’s Miami Herald, the feeling does not seem
Residents Hope For Deja Vu Second Victory Over Wal-Mart.
October 8, 2005
Residents in Beaverton, Oregon are as determined as ever that Wal-Mart will not gnaw its way into Beaverton — and hope to beat them just
Wal-Mart Wants Supercenter Next To “Old” Discount Store
October 7, 2005
Yet another example of mindless development comes to us via Polson, Montana, where local residents are nonplussed that Wal-Mart would propose closing down its existing
Wal-Mart Wants Historic Mexican Bull Ring
October 3, 2005
Wal-Mart often has to toss the bull around to get out the “real facts” about the company, so what’s so strange about the retailer’s wanting
Lawmakers Pass ‘Fair Share for Health Care.’
September 30, 2005
This week lawmakers in Suffolk County, New York nearly unanimously passed a law designed to ensure that large employers cover the cost of health care
Wal-Mart Buys Up More of Seiyu
September 30, 2005
In March, 2002, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had purchased a 6.1% share in the Japanese retailer Seiyu, with an option at the time to increase
Wal-Mart Saturates Ohio.
September 30, 2005
Small towns in Ohio are getting a closer look at Wal-Mart than many residents would care to have. The Morning Journal newspaper reports this week
Home Depot Prepares Major Move Into China
September 30, 2005
Mao’s famous red book is being redone in orange. Chinese news sources today are reporting that Home Depot is poised to invest $15.5 million to
Mayor Breaks Wal-Mart Tie, Sells Out Local Business
September 29, 2005
Mayor Larry Delgado never ran on a campaign platform to destroy existing merchants and the character of his city — but that’s what he’ll have
Home Depot Goes After Another Historic Site
September 28, 2005
If its got historic value, Home Depot wants it. That seems to be the fashion these days. Big box store going after historically valuable properties.
Residents Upset by Prospect of Wal-Mart
September 28, 2005
Here are two short SOS messages sent to Sprawl-Busters within hours of each other today. The first is from Ripon, California: “Walmart is currently quietly
Spaceships Land on Wal-Mart Store
September 28, 2005
In 1998,Wal-Mart was fighting a citizens group in the small town of Hadley, Massachusetts, located along the umbilical cord that runs between the University of
Wal-Mart Voters Win Recall Election, But Lose Mandate.
September 28, 2005
There is nothing like Wal-Mart to drive a wedge through the middle of a small town. Consider the case of Jefferson, Wisconsin, where Wal-Mart has
‘Mining’ Home Depot Heading For Ballot
September 26, 2005
The residents of the former mining town of Frisco, Colorado think they’re getting the shaft. Home Depot wants to build in their town, and has
Country Music Star’s Home Demolish For Home Depot
September 25, 2005
Everything has its price — even history. This week, a developer proceeded to demolish a home known as Evergreen Place, which is on a list
Home Depot Faces Racial Harassment & Sexual Harassment Lawsuits
September 23, 2005
The federal government has brought a lawsuit against Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement chain, and the company also is a plaintiff in a
Meyer’s Store Withdraws Due to Big Box Ordinance
September 23, 2005
The Anchorage Daily News reports this week that a lesser big box player, Fred Meyer Stores Inc., which is owned by Kroger, is pulling out
Citizens Stop Wal-Mart’Twice.
September 23, 2005
Two strikes and you’re out in Edmonton, Canada. Sprawl-Busters has heard from Wal-Mart opponents in Edmonton, that Wal-Mart has been stymied twice by angry citizens.
Wal-Mart’s 24 Hour Plan Gets Nixed
September 22, 2005
Wal-Mart has gotten an approval to build in Twin Falls, Idaho — but it won’t be open all night. The City Council voted 4-2 to