Wal-Mart May Soon be Making its NYC Debut
November 6, 2009 by Lauren Fairbanks
A few days ago, The Gothamist wrote about how opposition to Wal-Mart within the NYC area has decreased from 68% 2 years ago, to 56% this year. Not surprisingly, I’m sure a need for jobs has given the corporation a bit of a rosier reception from many locals.
I have mixed feelings about the scenario, as there are obvious pros and cons for each side of the argument. On one hand, with an unemployment rate of 10.2% in New York City, the jobs are very much needed. On the flip side, it takes a good amount of money away from local small businesses and also removes much of the individuality and authenticity that makes NYC so special. Is it a case of which is the lesser evil — unemployment or mass generic-ness?
According to The Financial Times,
We already have in our real estate program a robust plan to go after those [urban markets],” Eduardo Castro Wright, the CEO of Wal-Mart’s U.S. stores, told analysts. While it has discount stores (which don’t sell fresh food) around Philadelphia, DC and Los Angeles, there are few of the more profitable Supercenters near those cities.
How do you guys feel about the possibility of Wal-Mart moving in to the NYC turf? Do you think it’s going to ruin the mom and pop-ness uniqiness that the city has to offer? Or do you think it will be a welcome addition and provide tons of much needed jobs to New York’s 850,000 jobless? Sound off in the comments!
Photo credit: dhester via Stock Xchng
No related posts.
I have mixed feelings. Walmart will bring jobs, but they will be of the crappy variety–we’ve all heard the horror stories of its practices. Plus, Walmart will kill any small business in its circumference, especially if it opens in Brooklyn, The Bronx, or Queens.
Your Story Was Shared on NYC.is!…
Your story was featured in NYC.is!, where users like you make the best from the blog scene in New York’s five boroughs surface to the top. Here is the link to vote it up, promote it, and watch your traffic spike: http://nyc.is/node/3718 If your post …
@Joe – Good points. I feel the same way. We do need more jobs pumped into the area. But having a Wal-Mart *and* two Targets in Brooklyn? That’s a little depressing.