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 to be mutual. Although Florida has one of the highest number of Wal-Mart “dead stores” (euphemistically called ‘dark stores’ by the company), the company is still pushing to open more supercenters, while closing down its discount stores. South Florida has not been a leader for the world’s largest retailer. ”We’re definitely behind in South Florida,” a Wal-Mart spokesman told the Herald. “We don’t have that many stores, compared to what the population would support. The biggest obstacle is finding the land.” A Miami shopping center manager is quoted as admitting, ”Every time a Wal-Mart opens there are losers.” The Winn-Dixie grocery chain is one of the big losers in the south as Wal-Mart has chewed through Winn-Dixie’s grocery profits. A real estate investment trust spokesperson said of Wal-Mart, ”Communities don’t want them. Only the ones that have no choice will take them.” A Wal-Mart proposed for Midtown Miami was nixed by City Commissioners. Miami City Commissioner Johnny Winton, who recently voted for a Home Depot (see Coconut Grove story) said Wal-Mart just didn’t fit the ”image” the city wanted for Midtown Miami. ”Whether they like it or not, Wal-Mart has an image problem,” Winton told the Herald. “That image is not what we want this development to be.” Another retail consultant told the Herald that everyday low prices are now not enough to sell a Wal-Mart proposal. “Now they have to sell their story to every community.”
There is no such thing as a community with ‘no choice’ but to accept a Wal-Mart. Communities can always say no, and hold out for better development. For related stories, search this database by “Florida” and “Coconut Grove”.
