From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...: Walk to Wal-Mart!

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Walk to Wal-Mart!

April 13, 2004

Anti-Wal-Mart activists don't get it, I opined here recently; price rules, and old downtowns have to adapt to ever-shifting regional economies, anyway. Now, the Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony is really adapting, by tearing down a mostly defunct old mall called Apache Plaza, and building more than 600 homes on the site. But get this, Wal-Mart haters; there'll be parks and footpaths to a new retail complex with a......Wal-Mart.

"There will be people out there who say, 'that's horrible,' " said Kelly Doran, the developer in charge of the retail portion of the new Silver Lake Village. "But a nonvocal majority made Wal-Mart the No. 1 retailer. And what that does is create energy. They're the engine that pulls the passenger train. Without them it doesn't work."

The other big anchor will be a Cub Foods, a chain of huge grocery stores.

St. Anthony's current Cub at the Apache site will undergo an extreme makeover to try to make it fit, Doran said.
"We're modifying the facade, changing the parking lot, adding landscaping, adding lighting at the pedestrian level, adding patterned and colored sidewalks, widening the sidewalks. It's still going to be a building with a big parking lot in front. But that doesn't mean it has to be ugly."

....(the project could be) transformative for St. Anthony, especially as it prepares for the possibility of commuter trains gliding past the former shopping center, whisking residents to plays at the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

...The goal, (St. Anthony Mayor Randy) Hodson said, is to "reclaim the excitement people used to feel about Apache Plaza, and make this site part of the village again as opposed to just big boxes that aren't. Who knows, maybe we'll even get to the point where we get healthy again because we're out walking in our community."

As far as I'm concerned, Wal-Mart can build new stores wherever they get permission, and is more than entitled to battle new local zoning restrictions, that are sprouting up nationwide to keep them from doing what they've always done. The throngs of customers speak for themselves. But the company would also do well to see where else it can replicate the St. Anthony model.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 13, 2004 12:07 PM

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Comments:

I lived near St. Anthony's, MN for 23 years and this development is EXACTLY what this town needs. St. Anthony's, like many small towns in MN are dying. Meaning, they have two churches (Catholic and Lutheran), a gas station w/ a convenient store, one bank (if they are lucky) and 4 + bars. They typically do not even have a social hang out for young kids/adults (except for the VFW, but again, that is a bar), local grocery store or plaza with stores that carry inexpensive wares that everyone needs from time to time. Honestly, there may be one locally owned ACE hardware store, but the prices are so outrageous, people will drive 30 miles to the next town that has a Wal-Mart or Target to get the things they need. Towns like St. Anthony�s are perfect for stores like Wal-Mart because they add life and hope to the dying town, meaning they provide reasons for people, young and old to live there. Wal-Mart brings in jobs, which brings $, which brings people who want to live there, thus bringing more innovative ideas for new businesses, etc. and the cycle of life continues for this small town. Viva la Wal-Mart!

Posted by: Naarski at April 13, 2004 01:48 PM

Cub Foods rules! I wish one were here in Seattle. Between Cub Foods and Trader Joe's, my grocery needs would be complete!

Posted by: James Na at April 13, 2004 02:47 PM

James, I shopped regularly the Cub Foods on Elston Ave. in Chicago, until I moved here in '94. Leaning toward Costco in pricing, but more like Whole Foods in selection and quality.

At least we might get a Trader Joe's in West Seattle before too long. I'm told the (relatively nearby)Burien store continues doing well, they just need a good site for a free-standing building in West Seattle.

Across town, there's a new Trader Joe's going up around 17th and Madison, part of a several-blocks-long revitalization along a downscale and dangerous strip (running east past the notorious Deano's bar and adjacent mini-mart). I vote for gentrification over crack dealers and whores any day of the week.

And Naarski, loved your transplanted native insights - again - on Minnesota. Thanks!

Posted by: Matt Rosenberg at April 13, 2004 06:29 PM

Naarski~ I had to comment on your reply. There is NO SUCH TOWN as "St Anthony's" MN!!!! It is called St Anthony, MN and my children attend school there. There are not 4 bars in the town of St Anthony, and it is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Minneapolis MN, and nearly as close to St. Paul. I have no idea what you were trying to gain by making all that garbage up, but it's just that. Hooey! Oh, and by the way, I love the new Walmart opening, but I don't have to make up stories to say it!

Posted by: Mindi at March 21, 2005 06:38 PM

Oh, and I just want to make it clear that I understand what you are saying about small towns such as the fictional one you described, but it doesn't apply in this situation. I guess I'm replying to your commment with such irritation because you had the NERVE to say you had lived here for 23 yrs!(yet you called the town by the wrong name)duh!

Posted by: Mindi at March 21, 2005 06:47 PM

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