NEW YORK SITE FIGHT: PRO-WAL-MART GROUP

A Group That Supports Wal-Mart in the Town of Evans [WIVB News (Buffalo, NY)]

We’re used to seeing a lot of opposition to Wal-Mart, but Thurday night a group that supports the retail giant wants to be heard.

Instead of fighting to keep Wal-Mart out of town, a group in Evans is supporting the retail giant.

The super center would go in at the Grandview Drive-in, which is causing a controversy in this small town. It’s a community divided as Evans residents fight over whether or not to welcome a Wal-Mart into their town.

Tony Troidl, Friends of the Grandview says, “Do they really want to put a store in or do they want a four or five year court battle over this property.”

An Angola resident in favor of wal-mart says, “I feel we need a department store around here, we have nothing.”

So Thursday night a group called “Advance Evans” came together to support a Wal-Mart Super Center here.

Karlyn Dickinson, Wal-Mart supporter says, “We believe that it is for the betterment of this town as well.  Hopefully it will bring in jobs, not only for younger people, but older people as well.”

But the group, “Friends of the Grandview,” want to save this drive-in where the super center project is proposed.

Tony Troidl, Friends of the Grandview says, “People don’t understand, they think that it’s not open, well why bother trying to save it, it’s already gone - well it’s not gone, it could be open next week.”

“Advance Evans” members disagree. John Haak with “Advance Evans” says, “The drive-in has outlived it’s usefulness, it hasn’t operated in two years.  A much better use for the property would be a Wal-Mart Super Center.”

But with nine Wal-Mart stores in the area and several more proposed throughout western New York, opponents also argue a Wal-Mart in Evans is overkill.

Evans resident Cheryl Andreozzi says, “Wal-Mart is in Dunkirk and in Hamburg - 15 minutes each way.  We don’t need a Wal-Mart right here.”

Karlyn Dickinson, Wal-Mart supporter says, “We do not have anything in this right, immediate area.  The only thing we have is Martin’s, a grocery store, in Derby.  We have Jubilee, yes, but not very much more.”

Wal-Mart is expected to make a presentation to the Town of Evans Planning Board on Monday.

If the project is eventually approved, there could be a Wal-Mart in Evans by sometime next year.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Friday, September 07, 2007

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