http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-walmart26.html

 

 

They want to serve customers on the South Side of the city.

 

The city balks at their very presence.

 

Walmart opens across 95th street, mere feet from the city boundary.

 

Walmart is projected to get most of its employees and customers from the city.

 

Evergreen Park gets the proprety tax and other associated benefits.

 

Chicago gets to eat s***.

 

Nuke laughs.

The same thing goes for other businesses, like Cub foods.

 

Because they don't adhere to the myriad of labor laws that the City Council passes (instead of looking into city corruption), and have an exorbitant property tax on businesses, lots of once grocery store buildings stand empty.

 

Tell me that does a lot of good for neighborhoods.

Having grown up in Beverly, the story is humorous to me because it's the second reason we have had for making that trip to the other side of Western (OK, the third reason actually. Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn girls were easy ).

 

But the primary (and still most important) reason is that we have to go to the other side of the street to get a damn beer, as the high and mighty Lords of Beverly got the neighborhood voted dry I don't know how many decades ago.

 

And it's always been such a focking funny inside joke, because up and down the street, from Keegan's to Cork and Kerry, to Brubaker's, Wrong's, Heart's. . . it's nothing but us gawd-damn drunk Beverly folks in there night in and night out.

 

But I digress.

 

Ach, there has been a Sam's Club just west of where this Wal-Mart is going for several years and the traffic in Beverly has not gone to hell. In fact, the worst thing BAPA ever did was to start installing the friggin' rotaries and the speed bumps on Leavitt.

There are so many cities, towns, etc, that have tried this. I am amazed that towns will keep trying. If WalMart wants to come in, they will find a way. Your local stores will close or adjust. People want the lower prices and convienence of a big box retailer.

Wal-Mart is just dirty.. I don't understand why people shop there over Target. I don't pay attention... are the prices that much different?

Wal-Mart is just dirty.. I don't understand why people shop there over Target. I don't pay attention... are the prices that much different?

 

Yes, plus the product offerings are different. It also depends on which Target and which Walmart. They are opening a bunch of new Super Walmarts here, which are very clean.

 

To beat K-Mart, Walmart went cheaper and Target went with better merchandise.

Yes, plus the product offerings are different. It also depends on which Target and which Walmart. They are opening a bunch of new Super Walmarts here, which are very clean.

 

To beat K-Mart, Walmart went cheaper and Target went with better merchandise.

 

We have a ton of new Wal-Marts here (super and regular) and they stay nice for a few months then they go to hell. The employees seem not to care. The Target that's been around for 4 years is cleaner then the Wal-Mart that opened just last month already. It's nasty.

We have a ton of new Wal-Marts here (super and regular) and they stay nice for a few months then they go to hell. The employees seem not to care. The Target that's been around for 4 years is cleaner then the Wal-Mart that opened just last month already. It's nasty.

 

I guess each region as it own standards. It probably also helps we don't have snow and all that comes with it.

I guess each region as it own standards. It probably also helps we don't have snow and all that comes with it.

 

 

I don't think snow has anything to do with the bathrooms not being stocked or cleaned, the dressing rooms having clothes from previous customers all over the place, toys in toy department all over the place from ignorant parents letting their kids play while they shop, and they also have issue with putting away stock. Every single time I go into one there are pallets of s*** everywhere BUT on the shelves they belong on... The shoe department.. oy vey.. don't even get me started on the shoe department. We buy a lot of the kids clothes at Target (me) and Wal-Mart (my mom and sister) because they grow out of them so fast... but the way Wal-Mart is here I am almost afraid to buy them stuff from there.

 

I'm sure it has a lot to do with the pride of the employees. Up here they seem just not to care. The Wal-Mart in Orlando where my sister used to live was always amazingly clean.

Yuch. I was thinking you meant like dirty floors, carpet, etc. There are a couple 15 year old WalMarts south of me that I will not go into, but most are very clean. I also visit Target for a few things, but they never seem to have enough cashiers open.

 

I go to K-Mart for the feel of being the only one in a huge store. It's like walking into White Hen, just a clerk and me.

Yuch. I was thinking you meant like dirty floors, carpet, etc. There are a couple 15 year old WalMarts south of me that I will not go into, but most are very clean. I also visit Target for a few things, but they never seem to have enough cashiers open.

 

I go to K-Mart for the feel of being the only one in a huge store. It's like walking into White Hen, just a clerk and me.

 

I have no idea how the K-Marts here survive. There is never anyone in them here either (at least the one in Plainfield).

I don't think snow has anything to do with the bathrooms not being stocked or cleaned, the dressing rooms having clothes from previous customers all over the place, toys in toy department all over the place from ignorant parents letting their kids play while they shop, and they also have issue with putting away stock. Every single time I go into one there are pallets of s*** everywhere BUT on the shelves they belong on... The shoe department.. oy vey.. don't even get me started on the shoe department. We buy a lot of the kids clothes at Target (me) and Wal-Mart (my mom and sister) because they grow out of them so fast... but the way Wal-Mart is here I am almost afraid to buy them stuff from there.

 

I'm sure it has a lot to do with the pride of the employees. Up here they seem just not to care. The Wal-Mart in Orlando where my sister used to live was always amazingly clean. 

 

I've been to the one in Glen Ellyn and Downers Grove a couple times and they are nice. I had asked a guy where the big bins were to store wrapping paper and instead of pointing me in the right direction he walked me all the way there and it was on opposite side of the store. Same thing when I went there and asked for the auto section. The lady walked me all the way there...I just wanted her to steer me in the right direction. Granted you can't really judge a place on a couple of visits, but my experience was ok.

 

I think it depends on the class of people that are shopping there. Some people are ignorant boobs and don't give a s*** about picking up after themselves. People who look at 10 pairs of shoes and don't put them back on the shelf or even in the box. People who go in the dressing room and just leave all the stuff in there. I mean it's not too often I try stuff on anymore, but when I did I never just left the shirts or pants I tried on in the dressing room.

 

Certain people are ignorant and classless and feel everyone owes them something. This includes someone picking up after them cause "they dont work here." It just so happens a lot of those people need to shop at a bargain store such as walmart...hence the mess.

I have no idea how the K-Marts here survive. There is never anyone in them here either (at least the one in Plainfield).

As fast as they close here, call centers move in. They love the wide open spaces, big parking lots, and the bilingual work force they can hire.

BTW, interesting difference in shopping at stores in Mexico vs. US. The Walmart type stores all expect to have their employees put everything away. As a customer, you are a guest, and shouldn't be expected to fold stuff or restock the shelves for them.

BTW, interesting difference in shopping at stores in Mexico vs. US. The Walmart type stores all expect to have their employees put everything away. As a customer, you are a guest, and shouldn't be expected to fold stuff or restock the shelves for them.

 

 

Yep. When I am shopping at Nordstroms I barely get out the dressing room door before they are taking what I am not buying and putting it away. I hate that store with a passion, but the associates there are top notch. Young ones as well as the older ones.