Can someone explain to me why we don't have a Super Walmart? (Rochester: home, buy)

[Port North]

How about Wegmans? They have them over in Jersey, why not here?

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by ianwaters

I have yet to be at one but from what I understand the prices and selection are much better than the nonsense we deal with here. Why is NY and LI always left out of the good stuff?

I've shopped Super Walmart in Claremont, NH. Lots of merchandise, but not as extensive a selection in some products. It would seem as though they have arrangements with some companies to sell their products at a better rate, so long as they don't bring in a competitor's product.

At my local King Kullen, I have upwards of 30 BBQ sauces to choose from, an insance amount of salad dressings -- brands and flavors. At Walmart, I would see a much smaller selection of both. I might see Kraft Brand or Kens, but none of the smaller, regional brands I see on LI.

I don't buy produce or meat products from the Super Walmart. Seeing I'm up in New England (in a rural area) I am able to buy organic meat and produce from local farms or farmers markets.

My purchases at the Super Walmart tend to be staple items and snack things.

Someone else mentioned the space the occupy -- they are MUCH bigger than what we have here on LI. If anyone is familiar with the Walmart in Centereach or Setauket -- Super Walmarts dwarf them by comparison.

The Setauket location -- with adjacent BJ's property -- would be a tad too small for Super Walmart.

[dman72]

We're better off without them in the long run.

[ianwaters]

Originally Posted by dman72

We're better off without them in the long run.

And you say this because?

[scottzilla]

Walmart had to tippey-toe around a lot of land mines to get to LI in the first place. The moment word got out, they were met with opposition.
Walmart expansion is being fought right now as a matter of fact in E Patchogue. Walmart had to start slow at first (Notice that all of the Suffolk County Walmarts are in buildings that existed already?) There's a reason for this. Walmart is constantly playing a public relations game to keep their image strong. I wouldn't count on any Super Walmart's opening on LI anytime soon.

As a side note, the quaintness of LI was killed the moment these chain stores took over. There was a time when much of our shopping was done with local businesses. I'm not saying it's the worst thing but it did change things. We outlasted many parts of this country in this regard. I guess we can thank the high taxes and high cost of doing business. When I travel down south, i've seen hundreds of acres leveled, asphalted and walmarted in a matter of months.

[Crookhaven]

Action Alley is the company’s war room, a communications center that was set up and is staffed by Washington-based operatives from Edelman, a public-relations firm that advises companies on issues of “reputation management.” Wal-Mart corporate culture is parsimonious except in the matter of executive compensation, but, according to a source, the company has been paying Edelman roughly ten million dollars annually to renovate its reputation.

[RoleModel]

Originally Posted by Port North

How about Wegmans? They have them over in Jersey, why not here?

That I have no idea why. They would receive quite the opposite reaction compared to SWM, and they seemed to have skipped over the tri-state area, which could be a moneymaker if done right.

[TheTruth08]

Originally Posted by Port North

How about Wegmans? They have them over in Jersey, why not here?

These need to come to Long Island. Everyone who ever been there raves about them.

[ClarkStreetKid]

I've been to one and I'll never rave about them. They're crime magnets.

[Wes927]

Public relations is a big part of it. Walmart doesn't want to anatgonize unions in areas where unions are strong. Super Wal-mart coudl kill unionized supermarkets.