WAL-MART AT PEACE WITH LOCAL BUSINESS IN COBOURG, CANADA?

Cobourg DBIA, Wal-Mart reach accord [Northumberland News (Canada)]

The Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and Wal-Mart hope to prove that big and small business can coexist and prosper in Cobourg.

Wal-Mart recently approached Town council for approval on a 64,000 square foot expansion. The expansion would add 39,000 sq. ft. of grocery products, food display, preparation and cold storage and an extra 25,000 sq. ft. of non-food related retail space. The DBIA asked council to delay its decision until they could meet with Wal-Mart and discuss ways to coexist and work together. Those discussions have yielded two initiatives which the DBIA believes will work for both parties.

One plan will focus on the beautification of the downtown area, while the other will focus on marketing initiatives that will seek to entice visitors to downtown Cobourg. The DBIA plans to beautify the downtown by lighting all of the trees in the area, a project which will now be completed thanks to assistance from Wal-Mart and the Town. “We didn’t have the money for a big capital project like that, so we partnered with (them),” said Sue Dingsdale-Glover, chairwoman of the DBIA.

“We’re focusing on attracting people from local communities to the downtown. Promoting downtown Cobourg is promoting Cobourg to the whole community. I’m 100 per cent confident we’ll continue to thrive,” she said.

Ms. Dingsdale-Glover was pleasantly surprised by Wal-Mart’s willingness to meet with the DBIA and work for the best interests of the entire Cobourg business community.

“They were willing to come to the table,” she said. “We’re pleased they’re open to the idea. The community gives to those who give to the community.”

Posted by Joel Nezianya on Tuesday, July 01, 2008

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