Lakewood, Wa Wal-mart (Seattle, Tacoma, Kirkland: appointed, for sale, apartment complex)

[ymh1214]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THE WAL-MART IN LAKEWOOD, WA. I MIGHT BE RELOCATING TO THERE FROM PA AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT A LITTLE ABOUT THE STORE IN WHICH I AM WORKING AND THE AREA THAT I AM LIVING. ALSO IF I WANT THE SEATTLE EXPERIENCE IS IT GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME IS I MOVE TO LAKEWOOD? WILL I STILL GET A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE?

[cobolt]

It's difficult to answer your question because there is not a Wal*Mart in Lakewood, per se. There is one in Fircrest, which is actually University Place, and then in Puyallup, Lacey, and Auburn. Those are the closest to Lakewood. As far as Lakewood goes, you can't even compare it to Seattle. Lakewood is a low end area/suburb, whatever of Tacoma and nowhere near Seattle, neither in distance nor social standards.

[princessvanessa]

I have lived in University Place for the last 14 years. As ymh1214 stated, there is a new WalMart in Lakewood. It is located at 7001 Bridgeport Way W., Lakewood, WA and is very near the University Place city boundary; approximately .2 [2/10ths] of a mile from UP. It was finished earlier this year. This is an article in the News Tribune about the Lakewood WalMart's scramble to open on time Love ’em or hate ’em, but no stopping ’em | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Cobolt, the WalMart that you are thinking of in Fircrest/University Place never came to fruition. It would have been located on Mildred Street in Fircrest with Mildred being on the boundary of University Place. University Place required so many street/traffic improvements that WalMart decided against building. That lot is still available for sale--there is no WalMart there and they (WalMart) said they will not be building at that particular site. Here is the link for the article in The News Tribune Wal-Mart drops Fircrest plan | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Although I do not shop at WalMart, I have walked inside the Lakewood store just to look around. There is no grocery department but they have a few rows of food items and a short aisle of frozen foods. There is a garden and auto (tire?) center. Whenever I drive by the parking lot looks to be about 1/4 full.

Ymh1214, I would suggest finding an apartment in University Place, I know our city and most of the apartment complexes are good. In fact there are some nice ones on Bridgeport Way about a mile from Lakewood WalMart. I wouldn't select the apartment complex across from Fred Meyer--in the past there has been too many car prowls and it is big and busy. About half a mile up the street and past Walgreens there are some smaller apartment complexes (on the west side of Bridgeport). They look less like a beehive and seem quieter. There are a number of smaller apartment complexes in UP.

If you want to go to Seattle for entertainment, it is about 50 minutes away; if you go at non-peak hours. I don't think I would want to live in the Seattle area and commute to Lakewood for work...it would cost too much for rent and gas, plus you would be adding a couple hours a day (round trip) in commuting during rush hours.

[SeashoreDreams]

Originally Posted by ymh1214

CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THE WAL-MART IN LAKEWOOD, WA. I MIGHT BE RELOCATING TO THERE FROM PA AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT A LITTLE ABOUT THE STORE IN WHICH I AM WORKING AND THE AREA THAT I AM LIVING. ALSO IF I WANT THE SEATTLE EXPERIENCE IS IT GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME IS I MOVE TO LAKEWOOD? WILL I STILL GET A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE?

As a person who has lived in Seattle and Lakewood...these are two different animals. If you want the restaurants, arts, entertainment and traffic...go to Seattle and live. If you want the opposite, go to Lakewood. It's a 1 hour drive to Seattle if you want to get your fill. What are you looking for?

[ness]

Originally Posted by ymh1214

CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THE WAL-MART IN LAKEWOOD, WA. I MIGHT BE RELOCATING TO THERE FROM PA AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT A LITTLE ABOUT THE STORE IN WHICH I AM WORKING AND THE AREA THAT I AM LIVING. ALSO IF I WANT THE SEATTLE EXPERIENCE IS IT GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME IS I MOVE TO LAKEWOOD? WILL I STILL GET A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE?

There are a lot better choices for retail work if you are coming to live in WA. REI, based in WA, has consistently been on Fortune's 100 best company's to work for. You should check them out. They have a mind-blowingly cool flagship store in Seattle. They also have a Tacoma store. Also take a look into Costco, another socially responsible company that treats their employees well. Costco is based out of Kirkland, I believe, which is fairly near Seattle. Not to bash Walmart---okay so I am bashing Walmart----REI and Coscto actually provide wonderful health benefits and retirement plans. WA as a state has a culture of social responsibility, environmental awareness, and liberalism. If you want a truly WA experience go to work somewhere like REI. = ) Just my advice. Take it with a grain of salt if you wish.

[cobolt]

No I am thinking of the UP Wal*Mart on Bridgeport, near Freddy's. I didn't think that fell into Lakewood territory.

[princessvanessa]

Originally Posted by cobolt

No I am thinking of the UP Wal*Mart on Bridgeport, near Freddy's. I didn't think that fell into Lakewood territory.

Accckkkk, it is NOT the UP WalMart--never has been, never will be. Lakewood city counsel let the WalMart be build in Lakewood. Lakewood city counsel did it for the revenue...they sold out. There were protests from Lakewood citizens but WalMart moved in anyway.

Fircrest is about a mile north of the Lakewood WalMart.

As to University Place, we are building a Town Center with upscale shops--no WalMarts here. The denizens of UP would crucify our city counsel if they allowed a WalMart here.

Between Lakewood WalMart and UP city boundary is the back 9 holes of the Meadow Park Golf Course--the golf course is also located in Lakewood.

I do so agree with ness. I, too, was trying not to bash the company that ymh1214 works for. I was hinting that the WalMart is not well received because every time I go by the parking lot is not very full and that I do not shop there.

FYI: Washington just moved up to fifth in rank as far as union members. Even a weak union is better than no union. So, okay, I am a union member

[BuddhistTony]

Just so long as everyone knows Lakewood residents did not ask for the high cost of low prices king. I was one of the protesters, Lakewood city council has a habit of not seeming to listen to its residents. I guess thats what happens when all of them are over 60, and the only young choice will never win because she is a tool. I would suggest you try to find a better job than Wal-Mart, although most people here wont fault you for working there. Everyone needs a job, just don't wear any pro union shirts, cause they'll can you.

[jwb123]

WA as a state has a culture of social responsibility, environmental awareness, and liberalism.

No, WA as a state is not really this way. Western WA is completely different than Eastern WA, as is Northern and Southern...

[ness]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

No, WA as a state is not really this way. Western WA is completely different than Eastern WA, as is Northern and Southern...

Hmmm...disappointed to hear that. It's one of the things I like about WA. Although I'm much more familiar with Seattle, Olympia, Gig Harbor, Port Townsend than other areas.