Are there too many Walmarts in Jacksonville?

[I-10east]

IMO the Northside really could use another Walmart in the inner city area. The closest Wal-Marts to inner-city Jax is the ones on Lem Turner, Normandy, and Philips Hwy; That's just ridiculous.

[thelakelander]

I think one of these at a redeveloped Gateway Mall or Norwood Plaza would be quite nice.


An urban Wal-mart in Long Beach, CA.

[dougskiles]

How about the Walmart Grocery Store?  I believe it is called Neighborhood Market.  Anyone have thoughts about it?

[thelakelander]

Walmart proposed a Neighborhood Market along Atlantic Blvd a few years back and people raised cain over it because it was owned by Walmart.  Personally, Neighborhood Markets, Aldi's, etc. don't bother me.  Every store can't be a Publix or Winn-Dixie.

[Jaxson]

The trouble with that stretch of Atlantic Boulevard near University Boulevard is that it is a traffic mess during evening rush hour.  I wonder if the opposition to the Neighborhood Market was due in part to fears over additional traffic in the area?  I know that the new residential units on the old children's hospital property also add to the traffic, but I wonder if the Wal-Mart bogeyman raised enough hackles in people to oppose the neighborhood market, but not a new apartment complex...  That said, the vicinity around Atlantic and University does not look very appealing to new retail or dining options.  I especially pity the poor service station that is near the southwest corner of the two major roads.  It doesn't seem to have a chance at staying open...

[thelakelander]

I think that apartment complex was built on the site that Walmart had selected for their store.  I wonder if that apartment complex generates more daily auto trips than the Neighborhood Market would have?

[Jaxson]

You are right about the location of the proposed neighborhood market.  I guess that the number of daily auto trips would depend on commuting patterns (when the apartment residents work) versus steady traffic during the Neighborhood Market's hours of operation.  Furthermore, the same kinds of trucks that go to Publix would be going to the Neighborhood Market. 
On a side note, with the Mathews Bridge detours, there are times where I completely avoid Atlantic Boulevard because of the gridlock in that area....