Wal-Mart expanding in Jax??

[John P]

^They are in Central Florida as well.  I'm trying to figure out why people view Neighborhood Markets as being different from the regular Publix or Winn-Dixie?

Walmart only buys from china. Walmart puts pressure on suppliers to keep costs low which suppresses wages and creates dangers all down the supply chain both in the US and other countires. Walmart is notorious for donting millions to very conservative causes and has a recent history of employee discrimination.

[fsujax]

I didn't know they donate to "very conservative" causes, I might have to start shopping there now!

[thelakelander]

I though Jerome Brown's BBQ sauce was being sold in Sam's Club stores now?

[fsujax]

^^ it is.

[thelakelander]

^If they follow their general tradition of more and cheaper items, I can see how it could be different than other supermarket chains. Different companies run things differently as well. Publix is regional and has a reputation for quality and being a good employer. Is that true of Wal-Mart?

What about Winn-Dixie?  Is it now seen as a good employer carrying a reputation for quality?  It sure wasn't the seven years I worked there.  However, they have a right to compete in the marketplace like Publix, Food Lion and every other chain.  As you can probably tell, I have no problems with Walmart trying to expand in the grocery business if they determine there is a market for such expansion and is willing to pay for expansion with their own funds.

[Overstreet]

There have been several studies of Walmart's effect on communities in the last several years. One well known study, "The effects of Wal-Mart on local labor markets" by David Neumark, Junfu Zhang, and Stephen Ciccarella, published in The Journal of Urban Economics in 2008, found that Walmart openings typically put other retail stores out of business and ultimately reduce overall employment in the county, and additionally lead to declines in county level retail earnings. However, other researchers have disputed these finding. For example, in "Wal-Mart and Small Business: Boon or Bane?" (The Review of Regional Studies, 2009) Michael Hicks found no meaningful impacts of Walmarts on small businesses overall. As far as I can tell there's no consensus one way or the other yet, and more work needs to be done.

At any rate, before you consider whether Wal-Mart is good or bad you need to consider the full picture.

What I consider is do they have what I want. For example, The dollar store in McRae GA never did but the Wal Mart 15 miles away usually did.   I went to WalMart.

[Overstreet]

Walmart only buys from china. ............

Ever been in a WalMart?

[Tacachale]

^If they follow their general tradition of more and cheaper items, I can see how it could be different than other supermarket chains. Different companies run things differently as well. Publix is regional and has a reputation for quality and being a good employer. Is that true of Wal-Mart?

What about Winn-Dixie?  Is it now seen as a good employer carrying a reputation for quality?  It sure wasn't the seven years I worked there.  However, they have a right to compete in the marketplace like Publix, Food Lion and every other chain.  As you can probably tell, I have no problems with Walmart trying to expand in the grocery business if they determine there is a market for such expansion and is willing to pay for expansion with their own funds.

Winn-Dixie has suffered by offering inferior service. Wal-Mart thrives on it.

Honestly, I don't really care what they do with their own money one way or another. But if they run these stores like they run their box stores, judging by the studies it could be a cause for concern.

[thelakelander]

Totally understood.  I just haven't seen them having the same impact like the category killer super centers have had on local businesses.  These Neighborhood Markets have been around for years (not in Jax obviously) and seem to operate just like a typical grocery store.

[fsujax]

Well, Arlington and Mandarin seem to be first to get these. I honestly wouldnt hold out any hope for a more central location, Arlington is probably the best we will get.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536728&mailer=20120614

[duvaldude08]

Well, Arlington and Mandarin seem to be first to get these. I honestly wouldnt hold out any hope for a more central location, Arlington is probably the best we will get.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536728&mailer=20120614

And what is stupid is, Wal Mart is already ONE exit over from the proposed Merrill Location. That is just dumb.

[carpnter]

Well, Arlington and Mandarin seem to be first to get these. I honestly wouldnt hold out any hope for a more central location, Arlington is probably the best we will get.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536728&mailer=20120614

And what is stupid is, Wal Mart is already ONE exit over from the proposed Merrill Location. That is just dumb.

You'd think they would first look at the old Publix location at Ft. Caroline and Univeristy, the old Food Lion location puts them between two Publix stores.  The Ft. Caroline location gets them close to all of the homes in the Univeristy Park/Charter Point area.  In fact it also makes them one of the closest grocery stores for University Blvd all the way down to Arlington Expressway.  The only other grocery store in the area is the Save A Lot on Merrill Rd.

[I-10east]

The anti-Walmart political agenda meter is full already; Anymore the meter will explode.

How about the old Quality Food site at 8th & Hubbard?

I agree that would be a great spot, talk about a cash cow.

[thelakelander]

Well, Arlington and Mandarin seem to be first to get these. I honestly wouldnt hold out any hope for a more central location, Arlington is probably the best we will get.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536728&mailer=20120614

And what is stupid is, Wal Mart is already ONE exit over from the proposed Merrill Location. That is just dumb.

One is a Walmart.  The other is a Neighborhood Market grocery store.  They are two different animals.

[duvaldude08]

Well, Arlington and Mandarin seem to be first to get these. I honestly wouldnt hold out any hope for a more central location, Arlington is probably the best we will get.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536728&mailer=20120614

And what is stupid is, Wal Mart is already ONE exit over from the proposed Merrill Location. That is just dumb.

One is a Walmart.  The other is a Neighborhood Market grocery store.  They are two different animals.

Still seems weird to me.