We received a flyer today that marks the official beginning of local efforts to stop the construction of a new WalMart store in Warrenton. The flyer reads "Don't Mourn Take Action!"
The issue with WalMart for many has nothing to do with how this company has been responsible for the death of many traditional small town businesses throughout the country. It's about how WalMart manages to offer exceptionally low prices by pressuring it's 21,000 suppliers to drop prices annually. This has significantly increased the practice of out sourcing manufacturing to low wage countries and closed factories that once employed Americans.
WalMart's website makes much of the large donations the company makes to local non-profits which is usually timed to occur with the grand opening of a new store. The WalMart Foundation is the largest of it's kind in the world.
Those would would like more information on the effort to stop the Warrenton WalMart are invited to a public meeting set for the Red Building at the port Thursday October 22 at 7pm.
While I'm aware of how WalMart does business and how the opening of a new super store in a relatively small area can do serious damage to a business community that is not prepared there are ways to get prepared. Check my previous post on CEDR business 101 seminars for more information.
Many people have told me they are excited about WalMart coming here and I would point out that WalMart stores do not spell the end of other business development. Just take a good look at Woodburn where the factory brands mall continues to expand. The questions here? Is that what we want to look like? Are we truly prepared for what this change will bring?
That is what some are saying: Is this what "we" want to look like?
ReplyDeleteBut, is this "we"? How would Astoria lose its "look"? How would Astoria stores be impacted by Walmart? All of the shops in downtown Astoria are specialty shops, for the most part. If I want a piece of art or photography or to get one of them framed I'm not going to Walmart to get the job done! I'm not going to Walmart for apocathary needs nor for any other handcraft. Joanns may be hurt and if Joanns had better customer service (ie if it paid employees better and had more on hand) then it wouldn't lose customers.
Go down the list of what WalMart supplies and who is going to be hurt the most? Other chain stores and a little competition between chains is GOOD for the buyer.
Everyone MOANED when Seaside "changed" its look with the factory outlet stores. That area looks very nice, a heck of a lot nicer than it used to look. All of the traffic was already going by there, the tourist trade that many want this area to wholly rely on while they wean us off of living wages of timber and fishing and energy industries. How many local stores went out of business because of the outlet stores?? How "ugly" is that area of Seaside now?
The job market is nil, unemployment predicted to stay at 10% until who knows when. Walmart good or bad in your eyes will hire and employe hundreds of local people. It's good for Warrenton and will support our tax base especially schools. I will take a guess those anti Walmart folks are the same ones who are anti LNG and those recalling the county commissioners. Stay out of Warrentons business.
ReplyDeleteMy family is looking forward to Walmart opening in Warrenton. Finally there will be some competition for the high prices offered at Fred Meyers and Safeway (economic rule of 3's).
ReplyDeleteI don't see how Walmart is going to hurt the collection of restaurants, junk stores and niche stores (partiuclarly on Commercial Street in Astoria) in the area.
It appears that ANY company that wants to open a business in the area is going to be oppossed. There will never be a business that is "Good" enough for the collection of eletist retiree's that have settled here. Enough is enough people... we don't have to be against every business that wants to open in the area.
I know many MANY people who drive to Longview a couple of times a month to go to Walmart. Just think of all the gas that will be saved by not having to drive that 70 miles each way!
ReplyDeleteI never did a ton of shopping at Walmart when I lived near one, but there ARE some things that aren't available locally at a reasonable price, that I'd prefer to get right away rather than have to order online.
Hey, keep WalMart out - that nice long drive to Longview or Portland for shopping needs isn't all that bad. Plus, those communities love our business.
ReplyDeleteI think Walmart's "super low prices" are a lot of hype and the gullible fall for it. I went there once and kept saying to myself, "Where are all these low low prices, anyway?" They just didn't seem that lower than other places on general merchandise. It's amazing to think that people around here actually give up hours of their lives and a tank of gas to go out to Longview to shop there.
ReplyDeleteBringing a Walmart here may have a few benefits, but I also see a ton of negatives. When I go to the bigger cities to shop, I notice that people seem much unhappier than they are here. Traffic, crowds, lines...all make for a stressful existance. Another big box store here will contribute to that. I've already noticed how employees at big boxes such as Fred Meyer and Home Depot don't seem all that cheerful. Sometimes they're downright grumpy or clueless (not counting Safeway or Costco, they're pretty nice there). I've had quite a few experiences at these two stores that make me think that they're not all that greatful to "just have a job". Go to City Lumber or Builder's Supply and those employees look like they enjoy their jobs. They go out of their way to help you no matter what your request. They know what they're talking about. They have pleasant attitudes.
Fred Meyer, I've had horrible customer service issues with big ticket furniture I've purchased. I've encountered a super-grumpy woman at the service desk. I've encountered unhelpful storeroom guys who, after my payment has already been made, do nothing to make anything easy for me. Home Depot, I bought an appliance because it was cheaper there. But had to deal with 3 clueless employees who all had conflicting stories about availablity, delivery time, etc. They don't advertise that at OUR Home Depot they don't stock much inventory and it'll take 4 weeks for your purchase to be shipped in from some far away warehouse. I will no longer buy large items at these places. I wish I'd paid the extra money and bought at Hunt's. They always had such friendly and knowledgeable service.
I expect Walmart will be more of the same, so I won't even be shopping there. Contending with employees who hate their job and don't really care if you're satisfied or not. Battling the crowds who have driven here from somewhere else. The traffic! More people moving in to Warrenton. More stress on their schools and roads and utilities. Meanwhile, their Main street is sadly decaying.
People say this will not hurt downtown Astoria. It may not hurt the speciality shops. But I absolutely love being able to go downtown and shop the little JC Penney, the Deals Only, the co-op. Little by little the practical shops ARE disappearing. Did anyone notice Radio Shack just left? I don't want Astoria to be another touristy town with only art galleries, coffeehouses, and high-priced knick-knack shops!
I must agree with the idea that the "we" in "what do we want to look like" are Astorians, again trying to mold the county to their wishes. Just look at their opposition: they are holding meetings against WalMart in ASTORIA, not Warrenton, probably because they know that the Warrenton City Council won't listen to them. The Daily ASTORIAN is against Walmart as well, likely because of how it will affect ASTORIA. Do these people realize there are more cities in Clatsop County than ASTORIA? Do they realize these cities do not want to fall into the Astoria mold of building smiley face things like a swimming pool, rehabilitating a lumber mill, giving thousands of dollars to a private business to paint its building, having a cemetary, a batting building and parks it simply cannot afford? The "we" should be only those who live in Warrenton. These people deserve at least that much respect from Lori, Patrick, Roger, Jan, Tom, Susan and the rest of the Astoria anti everything gang.
ReplyDeleteI have been following the alleged small town devastation Walmart does to rural America for sometime now.
ReplyDeleteFYI all the local stores sell Chinese merchandise. Secondly the consumers on the coast have been price gouged for the last half century by greedy non union local businesses. Very few offer health insurance or retirement without employee self contributions.
In todays economy the coastal consumers need to save every dollar they can just to get by.
For those anti-Walmart folks its very simple refuse to shop there, but let the rest of us make that choice also.
"Grumpy" employees exist in all retail establishments, not just the "big box" stores. That's just the way it is. WalMart will probably have their share of this type of employee. But ... these employees will be local, working folk. Pretty much the same as those people previously mentioned i.e. Fred Meyer. I'd like to add that Warrenton has taken on a measured approach to improve the community, making it family friendly. Astoria, if you don't want to shop at WalMart, that's a decision. Warrenton, if you don't want to shop there, that's another decision. The North Coast area needs choices. This is a community, made up of many different people, not just one class.
ReplyDelete"The "we" should be only those who live in Warrenton. These people deserve at least that much respect from Lori, Patrick, Roger, Jan, Tom, Susan and the rest of the Astoria anti everything gang."
ReplyDeleteThough Wal-Mart, if it does fly, will simply be located in Warrenton and maybe that is exactly where it belongs but, I can assure you that in its planning and site selection, the demographics determining its move here includes all of Clatsop County, including Astoria and Pacific County across the river as well and I am very respectful of all's place, including yours, in the community.
And just as quickly, if what one reads is true, Wal-Mart will, if things don't pencil out, pack-up, take the hit and move out of the community leaving Mr. Nygaard with an empty building, dead businesses that couldn't survive and a bunch of people out of jobs that really weren't full-time anyway.
My only reservation is that we do the Due Diligence to avoid that at all costs and make sure the true demand is here for such a project at this time.
Am I against everything?
Hardly and I appreciate Port of Astoria Commissioner Floyd Holcom for coining the phrase, when he said, in a response to an insinuation that he was against Oregon LNG moving to Warrenton over his preference to Bradwood Landing and paraphrasing:..."I'm not so much against Oregon LNG as I am against "Bad Business" and "Bad Government"."
Though, I truly am not an expert on either, as most of us are not, even some of those we elect, I think I subscribe to that moniker..."I am against "Bad Government" and "Bad Business" and in my view, there's plenty of that around here these days.
Four County Commissiners either already recalled or facing it?
A 65 year lease at $39,000 a year for 90-plus acres of our land to an LNG Sepculator on Skipanon Peninsula?
In defense of Astoria?
My God what a different place than what it was 15 years ago when we moved here and I am curious: Would you have been happier should the old plywood mill site stay untouched and not reclaimed?
It has become a "class" issue. The blue collar working class struggling for existence and the retired, elitist group that have their money guaranteed to them and truly don't care whether or not it is affordable to live in Clatsop County or if the area is solvent enough to provide basic services to those of us who desperately need those services.
ReplyDeleteI find Chinese made products in most every store. After listening to KAST and the Anti-WalMart explanation this morning I found this a very contrived, weak and monotone explanation of just say no. I suspect a LUBA appeal will be forthcoming once the plans are available and permits are in place.
ReplyDelete21 people showing up for an organizing meeting?
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty impressive isn't it Tom?
Is that 21 people who live in Astoria or 21 people who live in Warrenton? It's certainly not impressive if the "organizers" are the usual Astoria nay sayers. Those people obviously have nothing else to do but put down everything. If it's 21 people who live in Warrenton, they should talk to their City Council.
ReplyDelete