The Way I See It!

More on the South Milwaukee Wal-Mart

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on Nov. 28, 2010

Retail, Wal-Mart

"We're looking to serve our customers all over the state," said Wisconsin-based Wal-Mart spokeswoman Lisa Nelson.  "There's plenty of opportunity in Milwaukee.”  Last week, South Milwaukee agreed to sell 3.5 acres of land to Gatlin Development Co., a Tennesseebased developer that is assembling what will be an 11-acre parcel on N. Chicago Ave. Gatlin hopes to build a nearly 120, 000-square-foot Wal-Mart store that would sell both groceries and general merchandise.  The size is a bit smaller than its typical 140, 000-square-foot supercenter and is sized appropriately for the neighborhood, according to Nelson.

Also in the works are plans for Wal-Mart stores in Greendale, at the former headquarters site for the U.S. Bowling Congress, and in Milwaukee at the site of a J.C. Penney outlet store that soon will close.  The Greendale location is part of what the village describes as a redevelopment area that includes Southridge Mall and the village's downtown retail area south of Grange Ave.  The village is proposing a special tax district for the mall, but the Bowling Congress property is not part of it.

In the past month, Wal-Mart opened large supercenters in Muskego and Waukesha, although the company no longer puts the "supercenter" name on the outside of new stores.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, faces more challenges entering the area than the Wisconsin-based supermarkets.

When Wal-Mart tried in 2008 to build a store in Cudahy, for example, officials refused to approve the plan, hoping to get something better.  News of Wal-Mart's suburban plans posted on the JSOnline website last week brought dozens of negative responses from people who identified themselves as living in the communities, but also drew favorable comments.  Wal-Mart spokesmen cite new jobs and low prices as reasons that communities should welcome them.

Danielle Devlin, executive director of South Milwaukee's Community Development Authority, agrees.  "Wal-Mart has a community giving program," Devlin notes.  "We have a tradition of our corporations being involved, but Bucyrus is pulling back from that.  In terms of an economic impact, it will be significant.”  And not only that, Devlin notes: "Residents will be able to buy a pair of socks in their own community.”

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail/retailers-general-merchandise-stores-discount-club/15288048-1.html