Walmart in Seattle? The lowdown
SEATTLE -- For months, there's been talk that Walmart might move into the Central District, which would have been Seattle's first Walmart. That talk prompted plans for a leafletting protest Wednesday at the supposed site, the Promenade 23 strip mall at South Jackson Street and 23rd Avenue Avenue.
But no Walmart deal is in the works, a spokeswoman for the site said Wednesday.
"We are evaluating all options and have not made any firm plans for Promenade 23," said Carrie Murray, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Weingarten Realty, which owns the '70s-era shopping center.
"We do not have current or future plans to develop a Walmart at this location."
So, Walmart shoppers hoping for a Seattle experience soon, sorry. Anti-Walmart types gearing up for a local fight, you can let your guard down.
But fans of the Red Apple grocery, which the rumored Walmart was supposed to replace, may have reason to mourn. George Staggers, CEO of CADA, a Central District development group, said Weingarten wants to bring in a more "financially substantial" anchor tenant to the site.
Red Apple, a smaller grocery, is on a short-term lease, and the site, with its lackluster storefronts, has languished for years. In contrast, the northern half of Promenade 23, on the other side of Jackson, has flourished with a busy Starbucks and Walgreens.
"They're probably talking to all the major retailers," said Staggers, whose group has worked to revitalize 23rd and Jackson. He understood Red Apple's long-time history in the neighborhood - the owner grew up in the Central District - but said the corner needs work. There's also interest in adding housing units to the site, which can rise to 65 feet, he said.
"It needs a refresh," Staggers said. "Soemthing needs to happen."
Walmart has three locations in Washington, in Bellevue, Lynnwood and the Spokane Valley, which opened this month.
But no Walmart deal is in the works, a spokeswoman for the site said Wednesday.
"We are evaluating all options and have not made any firm plans for Promenade 23," said Carrie Murray, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Weingarten Realty, which owns the '70s-era shopping center.
"We do not have current or future plans to develop a Walmart at this location."
So, Walmart shoppers hoping for a Seattle experience soon, sorry. Anti-Walmart types gearing up for a local fight, you can let your guard down.
But fans of the Red Apple grocery, which the rumored Walmart was supposed to replace, may have reason to mourn. George Staggers, CEO of CADA, a Central District development group, said Weingarten wants to bring in a more "financially substantial" anchor tenant to the site.
Red Apple, a smaller grocery, is on a short-term lease, and the site, with its lackluster storefronts, has languished for years. In contrast, the northern half of Promenade 23, on the other side of Jackson, has flourished with a busy Starbucks and Walgreens.
"They're probably talking to all the major retailers," said Staggers, whose group has worked to revitalize 23rd and Jackson. He understood Red Apple's long-time history in the neighborhood - the owner grew up in the Central District - but said the corner needs work. There's also interest in adding housing units to the site, which can rise to 65 feet, he said.
"It needs a refresh," Staggers said. "Soemthing needs to happen."
Walmart has three locations in Washington, in Bellevue, Lynnwood and the Spokane Valley, which opened this month.
You must kill the heart of Walmart if you want to destroy it.
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The heart is located in the electronics department, by the TVs.
3 locations in WA? Sorry, that number is wrong. There are at least eight locations.Â
I do shop at Walmart, but am thankful for those who don't. I hate long lines.
A SIMPLIFIED example of why Walmart is bad for the country:
In small towns, small businesses put their profits back into their communities by making purchases locally, and by paying their employees reasonable hourly wages and benefits. These businesses can't buy things as cheaply as Walmart, so their prices are higher than Walmart.
Walmart comes in. People flock to Walmart because prices are lower. They aren't thinking about why the prices are lower. People stop shopping at the small businesses. The small businesses can't compete, they close.
The new Walmart jobs that have taken the place of the small business jobs, pay less. The employees have worse medical benefits and their healthcare costs skyrocket. The poverty of the community grows as people earn less, put more of their income toward healthcare, and small business profits disappear, and the Walmart profits are sucked out of the community and sent to remote headquarters.
The local community declines. Add the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs because of all of the imported goods, and the total is an economy that suffers.
If you shop at Walmart you might save money initially, but in the long run, you might be destroying your local economy. Eventually, you might not even be able to afford Walmart.
We are now a country filled with large corporations, so let's look closely at how they treat their employees and their communities, and choose the ones that help us prosper.
I do not shop at Wal Mart at all. The only reason is because when it comes to Safeway, WinCo, Haggens, they will donate there food that is about to expire to food banks or shelters. Wal Mart will not donate any food. They throw out more food then what you buy in a years time. I will always shop at stores that will help feed the hungry.Â
 @Just my say Hey that is wrong though the Walmart I work at does donate there food that gets old to food banks all them might be different but the one I work at does donate old foods.
What's with that last sentence suggesting there are only three Walmart locations in Washinton? Perhaps they meant "new" locations?
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Also, are there any other grocery stores near the Red Apple or will its closure mean people living in that area, with limited transportation options, will be shopping for food at mini-marts?
Why would they want to put a store there? "Walmart has three locations in Washington". Only 3? Must have closed all the rest.
 @Klondiko 3 locations that opened this month. It was worded oddly, I had to reread it a couple of times.
 @Klondiko Yeah,I don't get that, since there are two in Federal Way, one in Auburn, a new one going up in Tacoma, one in Centralia. I'm sure there are a bunch of others as well.
I don't know, maybe Walmarts in Seattle wouldn't be so bad... if it gets them out of Renton!!!!
Here's how it will go down.Â
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hater:  "I Hate Walmart! NO to WALMART"
   reasonable citizen: "Can you articulate why you hate Walmart?"
hater:Â "Walmart BAD... Bad Walmart... blarg blarg blarg... Mom-and-pop out of business... Evil Corporations.."
   reasonable citizen: "Then, as a human being with choice, do not give Walmart your custom."
hater: "But everyone will go to Walmart, and Walmart will still win! Walmart Evil"
   resonable citizien: "So, what you are trying to say, is that you have a personal agenda of hating a successful business, that consistently keeps prices low, and has become overwhealmingly popular with customers. And, anyone who may not agree with you is clearly deluded by their Low-price fuu?"
hater:Â "Blarghh... Destroying Unions.... Low wages.... garble garble garble....."
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And, in the end, capitalism will, as it should be, win.
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 @EastSideTony Walmart treats its employees poorly. Rural Walmarts put small-town businesses out of business. Walmart continually demands lower prices from its suppliers, thereby helping drive manufacturing offshore. And Walmart has a very poor potato selection (really, I'm not kidding... why buy stuff at Walmart and have to go elsewhere to buy a few non-Russett potatoes? Their produce in general leaves something to be desired.)
 @TheMadTurk  You are my hero.Â
@EastSideTony Because Walmart pays their employees unresonably low wages, only allows their employees to work a minimum amount of hours so they don't have to pay insurance or 401k, They force larger companies such as Levi, Rubbermaid, Johnson & Johnson to ship jobs over seas, as well as where all their clothing brands are made by forcing them to drop prices or they take their business elsewhere so those companies can no longer compete. Their customer service is terrible. When they took away most of the Greeters jobs across the nation, which is coming here soon to be legal about it they offered all the sweet 90 year old men and women and disabled people that can't work anywhere else but need to jobs stocking shelves during the night shift...i'm sure all those 90 year olds and disabled people jumped on that great offer. Should I keep going or do I just sound like garble garble blarghh with my facts??
 @Riddler253  @EastSideTony Lets see... capitalism, capitalism, capitalism, non-related opinion, capitalism, capitalism.... Yes, please do go on, as each one of your points is exactly how it is supposed to work in America.
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@EastSideTony Walmart has bad service. That's why I don't like Walmart. Capitalism wins.
 @lilhikergrl  @EastSideTony Excellent reason. Continue what you are doing!
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Just what we dont need is a another Walmart..Hate Walmart have not shopped at Walmart in 5 years or so .. ..I am not rich , but I hate Walmart
 @InMyOpinion Haven't shopped at a walmart in 7 years. Best decision i've ever made. They're really bad for the local government, due to their low wages. Anyone on an hourly wage can qualify for medicaid and food stamps.Â
 @quidproquo  @InMyOpinion Just out of curiousity, what other professions are those workers who are working in Walmart qualified for that would pay them more than the hourly wage?   Last I heard, working > Not working, and Hourly wage > No wage. So, please let us all know how, exactly, this is bad for government....
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And another thing. Since WHEN is it the responsibility of a business to be GOOD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT? Last I heard, Government is a tax on productivity, productivity that is produced by businesse. Where is it written that it is the duty of any business to be "good" for the parasites.
 @EastSideTony Obviously not all of us agree with your opinions on government. But a business should pay its workers a living wage and provide benefits. Without a living wage, people have to get help to afford food.  To say that a wage is better than no wage ignores the reality of the world. And who are you to say what qualifications people working at Walmart have? There are many people in all walks of life who are overqualified because the professions they know best aren't hiring, thanks to the economy left to us by the Bush administration.Â
Seems like the perfect location for a Walmart, can't wait to see the photo spread of the "people of Walmart" Central District..
@Windowseat It is the perfect place for a Walmart..then maybe all the ruffians will leave the Renton Walmart and I wont be scared to go there anymore!
I sure like to meet the person responsible for this brilliant piece of journalism. 3 Walmarts? Well in that case, I like to know what the hell those other stores are in Covington, Shelton, and the worst one being in Renton. Probably the worst piece of journalism I've ever read!
The article said 3 Walmarts recently opened in Washington. Not all of them.
 @mstipton Well if that's what the journalist meant, then it should've been worded better. But that's not what it said.
 @Zoso  @mstipton Yes, the sentence is poorly written. It makes it appear the Spokane Valley store was opened this month.
 @mstipton That's not what it says.Â
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"Walmart has three locations in Washington, in Bellevue, Lynnwood and the Spokane Valley, which opened this month."
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I find the loudest noise comes from the retailers that charge 10-20-30% more for the same damn thing that WallyWorld charges. They pay their people the same and pocket the difference. Now they feel the heat of competition and their feet are getting warm. Of course they don't want any competition to cause them to lower prices. They have had a free ride for so many years and now the ride is coming to the end. Retailers are going to have it harder as the Internet., discount stores, and other methods of purchasing will cut into their profits even deeper. I too am tired of paying 20% more at one place than I can get it for at another or on line.Â
 @LongBeachBum  Walmart doesn't pay the same price for goods that a local retailer pays.  The hammer suppliers for cheap prices because they can sell huge volumes.  The problem with Walmart (and Target for that matter) is that a huge percentage of their goods come from China.  These retailers are responsible for bringing cheap goods in from overseas which further undercuts our manufacturing and wages.  Some portion of Walmart employees have health care coverage but the rest are offered plans that are too expensive to purchase based on what wages Walmart pays.  That means they're going to local emergency room, which everybody pays for - a form of corporate welfare.
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Watching Americans buy all these foreign goods reminds me of smokers. Â They know what they're doing is bad for them but they'll keep doing it until it affects them directly. Â Until then, screw the American worker, they'd rather save a few dimes and quarters than help the American economy survive.
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@Wickedwitch @BH Herring @LongBeachBum I know (not think), you already know the answer to that is [no]. I think that some of us make a concerted effort to avoid shopping at Wal-Mart, for the exact reasons that BH Herring specified above. I buy organic food as much as I can when I go grocery shopping. I never buy chicken from Foster Farms, or companies like that, or regular dozen eggs because of how the animals are treated or processed.
I'm not "elitist" or better than anyone; I am conscious of what I spend my money on, and occasionally when I am on the road have stopped at WalMart. Only If I have to...
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 @Wickedwitch  @LongBeachBum  Well, that's a dim bulb response.  There are plenty of things that simply aren't made in America anymore.  When I shop, I pay attention and support American manufacturers whenever possible.  Time to take care of our own.
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 @northwestsurfer  @LongBeachBum I have all my teeth. Many of them I get in Mexico because of the outrageous cost up here. Same with the glasses. One lens costs more up here than a complete set in Mexico and they are good glasses. Been doing it for years. Same with med's. I worked hard for what I have and I am going to make it stretch as far as it will.
@LongBeachBum @northwestsurfer Oh, I see, I was born with all of my teeth.
 @northwestsurfer  @LongBeachBum Might be easier to count the number of teeth remaining.
 @northwestsurfer  @LongBeachBum Oh man, I got to remember that line!
I do enjoy going to places like PCC and Whole Foods to try and shop locally, but my wallet usually dictates trips to WinCo and WalMart, wit ha little splurge here and there. :( I am MORE than willing to spend a bit extra, though, if a product is made in the USA. (For instance, I'll only buy Florida's Natural orange juice.)
 @WAbornnraised - Whole Foods is NOT local. It's a Texas-based chain with stores nationwide. Do your homework.
 @PurrlieHave you? They make a point of carrying LOCAL produce...
@WAbornnraised Wasn't it florida's orange juice recently recalled ?
 @Klondiko  @WAbornnraised Actually, it looks like it was almost entirely the imported stuff -
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http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/02/business/la-fi-orange-juice-fungicide-20120202
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 @WAbornnraised  A couple of years ago I was looking at the label on the kid's juice cartons that my wife buys in bulk at Costco.  Pretty sure it was Capri Sun.  I was shocked to find that the juice was produced in China.  WTH?  That stuff comes to my house no more.
@WAbornnraised Thank you from Naples, Florida!
 @Gottadance  @WAbornnraised You're welcome, it's purely American and tastes delicious! It's spoiled me for other orange juice.
"Walmart has three locations in Washington, in Bellevue, Lynnwood and the Spokane Valley, which opened this month."
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What the hell? There are WAAAAY more than 3 locations in Washington.
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This is horrible, horrible, horrible, journalism and horrible on the part of KOMO to print this nonsense.Â
@caphillkid yeah I think they meant 3 locations that opened this month, but it was still very misleading
 @northwestsurfer It's still a ridiculously silly mistake to print that. The more articles you read here, the more you get the impression that nobody gives a crap.Â
 @caphillkid  @northwestsurfer You get what you pay for.
Its not necessarily horrible journalism, but it is horribal grammar. I think what they meant to say is that Walmart (UGH) opened three new stores in Washington this month, in Bellevue, Lynnwood, & the Spokane Valley.
 @EMDF9A AH, I can tell you an experienced Komo News decipherer ...
 @caphillkid Except it's not KOMO's job to tell the PI what to do with their content. They're a partner, not a boss. Altho I believe it would be a good thing for KOMO to make that recommendation to fix that, but that's clearly not gonna be a priority.
 @Zoso KOMO printed it didn't they?Â
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Even a 10 year old is knowledgeable enough to know that we have more than 3 Walmarts in this state.Â
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Besides, the PI has already fixed the story on their end.Â
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We will see if KOMO does the same.Â
 @Komo Dragon @EMDF9A @caphillkid Actually, it's by someone at the PI.