River Oaks, CA. Wal-Mart Hurts Local Business
Study: Wal-Mart hurts businesses [Brentwood Press (Calif.)]
Nearby supermarket and retail stores, some of which are already struggling, might feel the pinch if Wal-Mart comes to town, according to a recently released environmental impact report (EIR).
Wal-Mart’s plans for a 230,000-square-foot supercenter with groceries in the planned River Oaks Crossing shopping center on Main Street between Bridgehead and Big Break roads might negatively impact CentroMart and Raley’s, according to the EIR.
“The proposed Project, either alone or in conjunction with the proposed Safeway and other projects including the possible Wal-Mart expansion in Antioch, would result in increased supermarket competition, especially in the short term,” the EIR states. “This period of increased competition could lead to the closure of Raley’s, the anchor at Cypress Square, which currently has sales reported below industry benchmarks.
“The main occupant at risk in Oakley Shopping Center is the Centro Mart, because the other tenants are small independent local serving businesses. This store is underperforming industry benchmarks and is somewhat dated and rundown in appearance.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, October 01 | 0 comments | Permalink
Galt, CA. Planning Commission Moves to Block Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart in Galt to see ban? [Lodi News-Sentinel (Calif.)]
The Planning Commission on Thursday tightened the language of and approved a proposed big box ordinance that could scuttle plans for a Wal-Mart in Galt.
The commission recommended that the ordinance ban stores larger than 120,000 square feet that devote 10 percent of their floor space to selling groceries, or non-taxable goods.
Wal-Mart has submitted plans to build a 132,000-square-foot store on Twin Cities Road that would include 19 percent of grocery space.
The commission’s recommendation goes to the City Council, which will make the final decision in late October or early November.
The proposed ordinance originally called for a ban of stores larger than 140,000 square feet with 10 percent of grocery space.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, October 01 | 1 comments | Permalink
Stockton, CA. Wal-Mart the Wallflower
A giant seeks a smaller footprint [Sacramento Bee (Calif.)]
Three years ago, Stockton welcomed a Wal-Mart Supercenter, the first in Northern California, with open arms. Last month, the city passed a law forbidding Wal-Mart from opening any more of them.
The City Council’s 6-1 vote bans all new big-box grocery stores but is clearly aimed at Wal-Mart, which had proposed two more Supercenters.
“There’s a feeling that one ‘super Wal-Mart’ is sufficient,” said City Manager J. Gordon Palmer Jr.
Success in California has come slowly and grudgingly for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Although it has opened 31 Supercenters in the state since early 2004, it has encountered resistance on a scale not seen elsewhere.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, October 01 | 0 comments | Permalink
Undeterred By Resistance, Wal-Mart Looks To Go Bite-Sized
A Wal-Mart the size of a convenience store? One that I wouldn’t need a map to find my way around??
In California, a state as conscious of social and environmental issues as any, Wal-Mart may be arming itself with a new strategy. For nearly every one of the 31 Wal-Mart supercenters that have opened in Cali since 2004, another has been halted through lobbying and litigation by local communities. City after city has passed big box ordinances - Stockton passed one just last month, while another is moving forward in Galt - aimed at large grocery-selling box chains. And combined with British-import Tesco opening small markets in California and the Southwest, Wal-Mart may be looking to downsize. A lot. Like, REALLY a lot.
From The Sacramento Bee:
Three years ago, Stockton welcomed a Wal-Mart Supercenter, the first in Northern California, with open arms. Last month, the city passed a law forbidding Wal-Mart from opening any more of them.
The City Council’s 6-1 vote bans all new big-box grocery stores but is clearly aimed at Wal-Mart, which had proposed two more Supercenters.
“There’s a feeling that one ‘super Wal-Mart’ is sufficient,” said City Manager J. Gordon Palmer Jr.
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Posted by Corey Himrod on Monday, October 01 | 1 comments | Permalink
Ventura, CA. City Manager Calls Wal-Mart A “Black Hole” To Local Businesses
On July 31, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had signed a lease on an existing K-Mart location in Ventura, California. Wal-Mart began talking with city planners two years ago about demolishing the Kmart store on Victoria Avenue and replacing it a 150,000 s.f. superstore with grass and a fountain in front, with an underground parking lot. In March, 2007, the City Council in Ventura adopted a 20-year “smart growth” plan for a seven-block area along Victoria Avenue that calls for more offices and pedestrian-friendly development. The council passed an “urgency” ordinance on Victoria Avenue that requires a building greater than 50,000 s.f. to undergo a special review and a use permit. City planners said that Wal-Mart appeared to be willing to meet the city’s new development guidelines, which would force the retailer to reduce the size of its store to a 60,000 s.f. maximum, and build it on two stories. The citizen’s group Livable Ventura has been pressing the city to pass an ordinance controlling big-box development. A telephone poll of 300 voters in July found that 62% of Ventura residents oppose Wal-Mart opening a store along the busy Victoria Avenue corridor. Nearly 75% support strengthening the rules on where big-big retailers could locate in the city. This week, members of the Stop Wal-Mart Coalition gathered to discuss strategy for sinking the Wal-Mart plan. The Wal-Mart controversy is coming just as the city heads into a city council election on November 6th, so the issue has become even more politicized than ever. “We feel we have received good cooperation from the city in the past, but the answer we’re hearing is, ‘We’d love to stop Wal-Mart, but we can’t,’ ” a staff person for Livable Ventura told the Ventura County Reporter. “We want to make it clear to the city that Ventura as a whole doesn’t just want Wal-Mart stopped but it demands they do something about stopping Wal-Mart, and there are legal tools in place to stop further big box development in the Victoria corridor.”
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Posted by Al Norman on Friday, September 28 | 0 comments | Permalink
Ventura, CA. Another City Tries To Stop Wal-Mart
Another city opposes Wal-Mart [KEYT 3 - Santa Barbara]
Residents in Ventura are rallying to stop the potential construction of a Wal-Mart Super Center, which would replace a Super K-Mart.
Wal-Mart also has plans to build in Atascadero and the major company is trying to get the community on board there as well.The rally in Ventura starts at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church.
Residents in the community believe a Wal-Mart super center on Victoria Avenue would have a disastrous effect on traffic and small local businesses.Those attending the meeting will learn about the impact of a Wal-Mart super center opening in the county.
Posted by Corey Himrod on Thursday, September 27 | 0 comments | Permalink
Poway, CA. New Wal-Mart Could Close Popular Farmers Market
Wal-Mart looking to expand its Poway store [North County Times]
POWAY—A popular farmers market-type store is closing its doors so a nearby Wal-Mart store can expand—possibly into a Supercenter, which sells produce and groceries in addition to retail merchandise.
News of the change is not sitting well with a group of residents who are already voicing their unhappiness after learning that the Plowboys Market at 13430 Midland Road will close so Wal-Mart can increase the size of its store at 13425 Community Road. The two businesses are back-to-back, bordered by Hilleary Place along their north sides.
Signs advising customers that Saturday will be Plowboys’ last business day recently went up inside the store, which sells fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants.
Store employees referred questions about the closing to the company’s San Diego office, where officials did not immediately return phone calls.
City officials, however, said they met Tuesday with three Wal-Mart representatives who told them the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount retailer had purchased the Plowboys property.
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Posted by Corey Himrod on Thursday, September 27 | 0 comments | Permalink
Onatrio, Calif. Fingers Pointing
Appeal hearing heated [Daily Bulletin (Calif.)
The City Council presided over an appeal hearing Monday night in which accusations flew from both sides on the Wal-Mart issue and all four council members in attendance were called upon to recuse themselves.
A decision on the controversial project is expected Oct. 9, when the hearing will be continued.
The source of debate is a Wal-Mart Supercenter slated for Mountain Avenue and Fifth Street. The Planning Commission gave it the green light in August.
John Logue appealed the decision on behalf of Ontario Mountain Village Association, which consists of homeowners in the northwest area of the city who oppose the development.
Before Monday’s hearing, some of those residents wore buttons denouncing the project and held signs in front of the Ontario Convention Center reading: “Save Our Children” and “No Supercenter.”
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Wednesday, September 26 | 0 comments | Permalink
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