Walmart possibly eyeing Downtown for Grocery Store (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: home, shop)

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

There are something like two billion (I may be slightly overestimating) drug stores Downtown where you can get basic stuff.

Seriously! There's a CVS on every block!

[nuwaver88]

• I hoped something would take over that space. The Strip promises to grow in population in the next few years. With Lot 24 and Otto Milk Condos opening within a year or so, and ground broken next year on apartments behind the produce terminal, there will a be a built in customer base within a five minute walk. They key will be to stay open until at least 8 or 9 pm. This will offer something the shops on Penn cannot offer to the people who live down there. This will be a store that highly depends on locals to help suppport, as opposed to the shops on Penn who could survive without the Strip residents despite highly appreciating their business. Right by Nature was a nice store and a good idea. I think that they were in the neighborhood a bit early in it's growth of realizing potential. That is still several years away. The price point was a bit high in a sparcely populated neighborhood with specialty stores only a stones throw away. I think in another five years or so an organic food store will do well in The Strip.

[Clint.]

I lived in Erie for several years, and there was a Giant Eagle and a Wegman's within a mile or so of each other on Peach St. They seemed on par to me. I'm usually not a cheerleader for businesses from which I gain no profit; perhaps I can sell some conspicuously branded apparel so people can become walking advertisements, eh? I have Wegman's and Giant Eagle hats, starting at $14.99.

Coincidentally, I read elsewhere on city-data not too long ago about Wal Mart's failed attempt (which was years ago) to establish themselves in Germany. They ended up losing billions of dollars and made a full retreat out of the country.

Grocery profit margins are relatively thin, from what I understand, so I think it would be hard to have a viable wal-mart style grocer in a high rent, highly valued, lightly populated area like Downtown. They would have to have a lot of highly marked up non-grocery or specialty items. Wal Mart has an allure no doubt, but not enough to sustain a Downtown store...although, maybe if they subsidized 500 parking spots they'd have a shot.

If a company (like wal mart) is focused on nothing but growth and regards stasis as failure, then once they've saturated the market they may try desperate measures.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Brookline_sylvia

Wal Mart has an allure no doubt, but not enough to sustain a Downtown store...although, maybe if they subsidized 500 parking spots they'd have a shot.

This is why I thought the Civic Arena location would be best. Lots of parking and close to where so many live.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Brookline_sylvia

Coincidentally, I read elsewhere on city-data not too long ago about Wal Mart's failed attempt (which was years ago) to establish themselves in Germany. They ended up losing billions of dollars and made a full retreat out of the country.

As an aside, here's a pretty good read on the subject: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/publik...n/pdf/w024.pdf Among other things, Walmart in Germany actually failed to have prices that were lower then the competition.

They do increasingly very well in the UK (though called Asda there)

[raubre]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Brian, if you have a better idea for a location for a Walmart downtown, which is what this thread is all about state it. Seems there are some that agree with my location , since parking is already there.

How about nowhere?

[gg]

Originally Posted by raubre

How about nowhere?

That would be my vote as well, but I am trying to look at it from Walmart's eyes. That being said, I feel they can't be in the middle of downtown, it would be better to be on the side of downtown. Um, that leaves only a handful of places. The Civic Arena area or maybe the Strip. I DON'T want Walmart in the Strip, therefore I will suggest the Civic Arena location. Brian seems to want to suggest I didn't think this through. If someone has a better location, speak up. Sure, no where is my first choice, but if they ARE going to build one, where?

[Clint.]

If wal mart were to build in an area in or near Downtown then the civic arena site would probably be the one that best fits what they would need to be successful. Maybe build a parking garage, like Target did in E. Liberty.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Brookline_sylvia

If wal mart were to build in an area in or near Downtown then the civic arena site would probably be the one that best fits what they would need to be successful. Maybe build a parking garage, like Target did in E. Liberty.

A parking garage would be good. I just don't want to see some big new place in the Strip that has some giant sign, "WALMART" on it. The Civic Arena spot has no historical value anymore and it is more of a blank canvass. Like the Target in East Liberty, which didn't really take away from that spot, I feel Walmart in the Civic Arena location, won't take much away. Just build a new area there to service the locals in the city and the Hill.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I feel Walmart in the Civic Arena location, won't take much away. Just build a new area there to service the locals in the city and the Hill.

Hill District people have been complaining for decades about the dirth of places to shop in their community for basic necessities. WMT on the arena site could be a good location with public transit access, walkability as well as good access to highways and Bigelow Blvd.