Montana relocation: resentment toward newcomers (Bozeman: houses, condos, rent)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

All I've seen wal-mart do is put good people out of business, create a huge eyesore, and screw up traffic in places.

And come to mention it... what's with the newer Walmarts? The new stores are ALL butt-ugly and they're ALL Super-Walmarts. Yeah, you save a lot on distribution costs when every store is also its own warehouse (that's the idea behind the Super-W's) but that doesn't mean the FRONT half of the store needs to be so ginormus that it's impossible to shop efficiently, even if you wanted to. They're so freakin' huge it's a day's hike from one end to the other, and you can't find a blasted thing.

Our original Walmart here dated back to Sam Walton's day (when 100% of the merchandise was Made In USA), and it was not only the first Walmart in California, it was also the highest grossing Walmart in the world, despite being on the small side, and in an old beat-up building. BUT -- it was cozy and homey and more like an old-time Penney's, and the same people had worked there since forever.

Last year it was closed, and replaced by a Super Walmart. Okay, it's the best I've seen of these new ones, but it's still huge and impersonal. Everyone around here says the same thing -- we miss our old beat-up *neighbourhood* style Walmart.

[RadBrad]

I think I have read all the good, the bad and the ugly about Kalispell Montana and more. I just joined today so I am very new to this forum. From some of what I have been reading I feel kind of like the enemy being from California. What is so funny is that I have lived in what people now call "the OC" (so lame!) for all of my life now and I personally have always felt like I am out of place here. I visited Kalispell about 7 years ago for the first time and fell in love with it instantly and felt so at home. The people there are unlike anyplace I have ever been. I don't think I have run into an unfriendly person although I am sure there are some. I have returned many times since then and have now bought some property and hope to live there some day, God willing. I have read a few times in the dialogue how bad the economy is in Montana but what I don't think they understand is that my two kids who were born and raised in California will never be able to afford a home of their own in Orange County unless they become rich or something. Not that it couldn't happen but there are SO many other reasons why to leave California. I was born and raised in Orange County during a time when I was surrounded by orange groves and dairies. Those days are long gone now and have been replaced by a completely different world. It is a world full of the most superficial and arrogant people you will ever meet. The worst thing is that it is SO very easy to get caught up in it but Thank God, even my kids can see the difference. There are so many other negatives that I could list them all day. Don't get me wrong, California also has many positives but none that I couldn't live without. My kids also strongly desire to relocate to Montana but with the understanding that it is not Montana that gives us peace, joy and happiness in life but only through Jesus, no matter where we live. So someday if it is meant to be that I am blessed enough to get to live in the Flathead Valley, I hope my family and I will be received and welcomed even though we are Californians and can be looked upon as good neighbors instead. I do totally understand how people from Montana must feel because I also hope and pray that what happened to Orange County doesn't ever happens to the Flathead Valley.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by Reziac

And come to mention it... what's with the newer Walmarts? The new stores are ALL butt-ugly and they're ALL Super-Walmarts. Yeah, you save a lot on distribution costs when every store is also its own warehouse (that's the idea behind the Super-W's) but that doesn't mean the FRONT half of the store needs to be so ginormus that it's impossible to shop efficiently, even if you wanted to. They're so freakin' huge it's a day's hike from one end to the other, and you can't find a blasted thing.

Our original Walmart here dated back to Sam Walton's day (when 100% of the merchandise was Made In USA), and it was not only the first Walmart in California, it was also the highest grossing Walmart in the world, despite being on the small side, and in an old beat-up building. BUT -- it was cozy and homey and more like an old-time Penney's, and the same people had worked there since forever.

Last year it was closed, and replaced by a Super Walmart. Okay, it's the best I've seen of these new ones, but it's still huge and impersonal. Everyone around here says the same thing -- we miss our old beat-up *neighbourhood* style Walmart.

I remember the days when you would see the ads for wally world and all the products were made in the USA.. They even had that "made in the USA" logo plastered all over the place.

The one in Bozeman is way too big for me, so sure I spend a little more going to the local stores, (mostly in Belgrade, except Town and Country in Bozeman... great place and good prices! Heebs is good too.) but at least I don't feel like I am feeding "the demon" They (wally world) went to a "super" store a couple years ago, complete with a Mac-D's and everything else inside.. Crazy... Although I do admit to buying one thing there from time to time.. (once a year) Clay pidgeons are less than 5 bucks for a case of 90, but I pay back a friend for going to get them for me so I can avoid the place...

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

The one in Bozeman is way too big for me, so sure I spend a little more going to the local stores, (mostly in Belgrade, except Town and Country in Bozeman... great place and good prices! Heebs is good too.) but at least I don't feel like I am feeding "the demon" They (wally world) went to a "super" store a couple years ago, complete with a Mac-D's and everything else inside.. Crazy... Although I do admit to buying one thing there from time to time.. (once a year) Clay pidgeons are less than 5 bucks for a case of 90, but I pay back a friend for going to get them for me so I can avoid the place...

Which tells you there's a market in Bozeman for cheaper clay pigeons, if only one of the local sporting goods stores could match Walmart's prices

When I lived there, Belgrade had a compact, useful downtown, everything on one street and the old Lee & Dad's at the east end. I remember how appalled we all were when Lee & Dad's moved to their new building closer to the Interstate!!

[CA central coast]

A few years ago I was visiting my grandfather in Townsend. He needed a new matress, so we drove to Helena to look for one. While in the furniture store a lady who worked behind the counter commented to me about the nice weather "we" were having. I then told her that I had just come into town yesterday. She asked from where and I said I'm visiting from CA. She says, "California, huh?". With a smile on my face I said, "don't worry, I'm just visiting". So she replies, "THAT"S GOOD". With no smile on her face. Smart way to sell a matress, we ended up going to a matress outlet in Bozeman. I understand the frustration, I do believe she was rude though. The truth is, I'm from a small area, nowhere near a big city, and I'm surrounded by farms and ranches. Similiar to MT. The truth is, rural CA, most of CA is more simliar to MT than Montanans realize. "Californians", should not be lumped all into one lot. The same arguments about "outsiders" are the same ones I've heard all my life about my area of CA. Most Californians who are moving to the western states are from the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area. So, before they were moving to places like Montana, they were moving to the more rural areas of California. I was hearing these same complaints 25 years ago. I don't blame anyone for wanting to leave those cities. What always bugged me was that, after leaving L.A. a year earlier, here is some guy trying to get on the city council. That sort of thing I think is what angers everyone. You move here and then immediatly you are trying to change our way of life. I do believe people from LA and SF have given Californians a bad name. So to those who are leaving CA, just relax for a while. And to those who hate Californians, most of us are just like you. CA is the largest farming state in the country, we're not just one big Hollywood.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by Reziac

Which tells you there's a market in Bozeman for cheaper clay pigeons, if only one of the local sporting goods stores could match Walmart's prices

When I lived there, Belgrade had a compact, useful downtown, everything on one street and the old Lee & Dad's at the east end. I remember how appalled we all were when Lee & Dad's moved to their new building closer to the Interstate!!

I suppose a person could order pigeons direct, but I don't shoot em enough to need more than a box or two in a year. After this thread I'm going to check some other places before spending my 5 bucks at wally world.

Belgrade sure has changed... I miss the old Lee & Dads too, but for the most part it's still a cool store even in the new building. (Beats the alternative) There is actually a pretty bad traffic problem in Belgrade at 5:00PM or so. Never thought I'd see rush hour in Belgrade!

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

I suppose a person could order pigeons direct, but I don't shoot em enough to need more than a box or two in a year. After this thread I'm going to check some other places before spending my 5 bucks at wally world.

Belgrade sure has changed... I miss the old Lee & Dads too, but for the most part it's still a cool store even in the new building. (Beats the alternative) There is actually a pretty bad traffic problem in Belgrade at 5:00PM or so. Never thought I'd see rush hour in Belgrade!

Try any sporting magazine -- lots of wholesalers advertise in the classifieds. Outdoor Life or Sports Afield should have such ads.

I look at Belgrade on the satellite map and man, it worries me... I used to live on Tower Road and before that on Nelson Road, which at the time was the middle of nowhere... all developed around both areas now. So much for that wonderful bottomland for farming, not to mention the fishing access on the East Gallatin.

When Lee & Dad's moved to their new place, it was the only building out there (and you're right, it was still a good store). I guess they were "forward thinking" after all, as now it looks like the area along the Interstate has grown a bunch of little strip malls. On the good side, I'm thinking about a small storefront once I get moved back (when/if... *sigh*) and there are some cheap ones right near L&D's.

L&D's didn't like me as much as I liked them, tho.. they'd have a good deal on dog food and I'd come buy the whole stack on the first day of the sale. Kinda ruined their loss-leader.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by Reziac

Try any sporting magazine -- lots of wholesalers advertise in the classifieds. Outdoor Life or Sports Afield should have such ads.

I look at Belgrade on the satellite map and man, it worries me... I used to live on Tower Road and before that on Nelson Road, which at the time was the middle of nowhere... all developed around both areas now. So much for that wonderful bottomland for farming, not to mention the fishing access on the East Gallatin.

When Lee & Dad's moved to their new place, it was the only building out there (and you're right, it was still a good store). I guess they were "forward thinking" after all, as now it looks like the area along the Interstate has grown a bunch of little strip malls. On the good side, I'm thinking about a small storefront once I get moved back (when/if... *sigh*) and there are some cheap ones right near L&D's.

L&D's didn't like me as much as I liked them, tho.. they'd have a good deal on dog food and I'd come buy the whole stack on the first day of the sale. Kinda ruined their loss-leader.

We still shop there, and one of the clerks is so attached to my boy that she picks him up and holds him while checking our groceries.. (He's a flirt just like his daddy..)

Last year there was a fire in the hardware store next door,(might have still been a Coast to Coast when you were here.) and they really re-did the place nice. As a matter of fact there is now a pickle barrel a couple stores down! (Best cheese steaks in the world!)

Now I'm hungry just thinking about it...

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

Last year there was a fire in the hardware store next door,(might have still been a Coast to Coast when you were here.)

Wasn't nuthin' else when I lived there.. Lee & Dad's new store was all by itself.

In fact I was going to ask if the old Coast to Coast (or whatever it was called after the C2C company died) store was still down on the main drag. It was a good store, back-when.

And what the heck was the name of the big hardware outfit that was next door to the IGA in Bozeman, on 7th?? is it still there?

Crap, I'll get back and won't be able to find anything

[kingster]

Originally Posted by Reziac

Wasn't nuthin' else when I lived there.. Lee & Dad's new store was all by itself.

In fact I was going to ask if the old Coast to Coast (or whatever it was called after the C2C company died) store was still down on the main drag. It was a good store, back-when.

And what the heck was the name of the big hardware outfit that was next door to the IGA in Bozeman, on 7th?? is it still there?

Crap, I'll get back and won't be able to find anything

Are you thinking of Big R? Was that when IGA was on the corner of N 7th and Durston (I think that was the IGA)? The IGA now is in the old Albertsons/Skaggs building, still on N 7th though. If you haven't been in Bozeman since then you'll be AMAZED at the change/growth. It's definatlely not the same as it used to be.