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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Wal-Mart, Westerville and Mass-Produced Urban Life

The Real Estate Swami sees turbulent days ahead for communities as Wal-Mart and other big box retailers move into urban neighborhoods.  Swami’s crystal ball shows many small business owners closing their shop doors in the coming years as a result.
The City of Westerville, Ohio, recently approved the building of a Wal-Mart in an urban neighborhood populated by many small shops.  This is an example of Wal-Mart’s plan to target urban areas since they have saturated the rural landscape.
A 2009 study* by the Center for Urban Research and Learning at Loyola University-Chicago highlighted the impact that urban Wal-Marts have on surrounding businesses.  The study of a Chicago neighborhood showed 82 of 306 area businesses closed their doors within two years of Wal-Mart’s opening.
“The beauty of the recent moon will not hide the pain and suffering many small business and building owners will feel in the coming days.  The vision of jobs, neighborhood vitality and the sense of community will vanish as a new reality sets upon urban neighborhoods,” reveals the Swami.
The Loyola University study shows that the probability of stores closing due to a new urban Wal-Mart falls off 6 percent per mile in all directions.  The types of establishments in danger include electronics, toys, office supplies, hardware, home furnishings and drugs. The report also shows area sales, jobs and taxes as flat or declining.
“The balance of local community is a delicate one,” the Swami says.  “Many desires and needs swirl within our collective spirit to form one face.  Let us meditate on the knowledge that change is constant. The community’s eyes and heart must be open to where the road ahead is leading.”
The Real Estate Swami is a service provided by Web Face, a communications and marketing company.  To find out more about Web Face go to www.web-face-solutions.com
*Davis, J., Merriman, D., Samayoa, L., Flanagan, B., Baiman, R., & Persky, J. (2009). The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood's Experience. Chicago: Center for Urban Research and Learning, Loyola University-Chicago.

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