Walmart possibly eyeing Downtown for Grocery Store (Pittsburgh, Scranton: health insurance, neighborhoods)

[Blackbeauty212]

Wal-Mart seeks grocery sites

Doug German, the retail manager for Downtown-based Howard Hanna Commercial, who hopes to market a host of sites and developers for Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market concept, said he expects Wal-Mart to seek out locations in the city and anywhere else with adequate population, which would narrow the retailer’s search closer into Allegheny County. He sees an opportunity for a Neighborhood Market in Downtown and city neighborhoods, as well as beyond.

Wal-Mart seeks grocery sites - Pittsburgh Business Times

PM me if you want full article.

[SteelCityRising]

(Sigh). After seeing the documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" I can't say I'm a fan of this corporate goliath. With that being said, though, I'd rather a Wal-Mart grocery store Downtown than no grocery store. I was really hoping that Wegman's might choose to build its first store (along with either a parking garage or preferably underground parking) in the metro area within the new mixed-use projects coming to the Civic Arena site. I was also hoping that in lieu of that Harris Teeter, which already has a great track record for adapting to urban areas in and around Washington, DC, would locate somewhere Downtown.

Oh well. Wal-Mart it is.

[gg]

Probably a good fit for Pittsburgh. Most around these parts like things cheap or the feel of cheap. Where else can you buy apple juice from China? Walmart is really just a Chinese import company and that is what is in demand. It will probably do very well downtown. They do well everywhere.

[UKyank]

Please bring some competition to the city for Giant Eagle, please

[I_Like_Spam]

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets are 40,000 square feet- about the same size as the new Shop n Save being built on Centre Ave.

I have doubts there would be enough grocery business in town to support such a store unless they are thinking they could elbow out the Cedar Ave Giant Eagle but we shall see. They know their business better than I do.

I've seen the documentary on Wal-Mart but I just don't see where their wages and benefits for employees are any worse than other retailers big or small.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

I've seen the documentary on Wal-Mart but I just don't see where their wages and benefits for employees are any worse than other retailers big or small.

I worked for Lowe's for years. My starting hourly wage back in early-2005 in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area was $8.69, and I had the most menial of jobs at the store---overglorified cart boy who also emptied trash cans, swept, and helped customers load heavy items into their vehicles. When I left the company in early-2009 to pursue a career opportunity near DC after college graduation I was making $11.14/hr. (plus commissions) as a Customer Service Associate II in a department. If I was still there today I'd probaly be that same department's specialist (with an hourly pay bump of at least $1/hr.) or manager (I believe my department manager candidly told me he made $16/hr.) Above department managers were "Zone Managers", which managed several departments as a group, and then the main store manager, who I believe made six-figures when you added in bonuses and incentives. I highly doubt Wal-Mart's starting wage for its entry-level employees is anywhere near $9/hr. I also highly doubt any of its associates earn commissions on their sales. Lowe's offered generous perks including health benefits, stock plan participation, paid time off, etc. I've actually considered applying locally to work at Lowe's again to work my way into management.

Wal-Mart has earned the scorn of those of us who are actually "in the know" about retail for hypocritically claiming it also offers great benefits while simultaneously NOT paying the MAJORITY of its employees enough to purchase health insurance, meaning the taxpayers have to pick up the difference. Granted Wal-Mart's "lemming" consumers only seem to care about quantity---not quality---and couldn't care less about where they're spending their money as long as they're spending as little of it as possible.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

I would think something more Wegmans or even Whole Foods-esque would be the type of place go cater to downtown residents...

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

I would think something more Wegmans or even Whole Foods-esque would be the type of place go cater to downtown residents...

Unfortunately for us, GE & Wegmans have a non-compete agreement

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I worked for Lowe's for years. My starting hourly wage back in early-2005 in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area was $8.69, and I had the most menial of jobs at the store---overglorified cart boy who also emptied trash cans, swept, and helped customers load heavy items into their vehicles.

I worked at Lowe's as well, though back in like '99 & pretty sure we had the same job if you add in fetching special order items from the back & unloading the cement truck. The most annoying thing was some of the old people who you were assisting loading their car practically treating you like the devil out there solely to damage their vehicle - the flip side were others that wanted to tip you. All in all I have nothing negative to say about the company.

[FreightTrainRunning]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Unfortunately for us, GE & Wegmans have a non-compete agreement

How could that be legal?