June 14, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 24

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June 14, 2008 / Not Just Nets / Perspective / Editorial

Dreaming of Wal-Mart

The Brooklyn Paper

In a front-page story two weeks ago, our reporter Sarah Portlock took a walk along the Fulton Mall shopping strip in Downtown Brooklyn and found that at least 11 chain stores have more than one location in that short eight-block stretch.

One store, Payless Shoes, has three!

Brooklyn Bridge Realty

Real-estate observers said that such saturation makes sense from a retailers’ perspective, although it does little to enhance shoppers’ choice or help keep prices competitive.

But change is afoot on the Fulton Mall.

This week, The Brooklyn Paper confirmed that H&M, the high-fashion, low-price, Euro-styled clothing store, plans to open next year on the mall, at Bridge Street.

And the New York Sun is reporting that JC Penney may occupy the current Conway site next door.

BoroDeal

This is great news for shoppers, as both chains pride themselves on diverse offerings and competitive prices.

As does Ikea, which will open on Wednesday in Red Hook.

As does Target, whose Atlantic Terminal store is said to be the chain’s busiest location in the United States — so busy, in fact, that Target is planning to build another store just four blocks away.

Which brings us to Wal-Mart, whose revolutionary combination of size, selection and price has lowered the cost of living for millions of Americans. As Brooklynites have welcomed Target and Ikea, they would flock to the Bentonville behemoth if given the opportunity.

• • •

This newspaper has long supported Wal-Mart’s efforts to open its first New York City store in Brooklyn, and has said that there is no better place for Wal-Mart than near the Fulton Mall.

While we remain concerned about some of Wal-Mart’s corporate policies, we also believe that if it opened a truly urban store, Brooklyn consumers — and their dollars — would bend the chain towards our values, not the other way around.

And therein lies the key to adapting big-box stores to our urban environment.

If developers put them in mass-transit-starved enhanced strip malls like Caesar’s Bay or Gateway at Spring Creek, we end up with an auto-driven “sucking sound” pulling the life out of nearby neighborhood shopping strips.

But put a Target, JC Penney or Wal-Mart in an existing downtown, and you draw even more traffic to the merchants occupying the adjacent streets. Then, instead of killing Mom-and-Pop stores, they’d present the Mom and Pops with enlarged opportunities for profit.

Fulton Mall is well served by public transit that efficiently connects it to most of New York City — and is surrounded by booming residential and commercial neighborhoods with hundreds of thousands of potential shoppers.

With Fulton Mall changing, it is time for city officials to reconsider Wal-Mart’s attempt to bring its low prices and vast selection to Downtown Brooklyn.

←Williamsburg: Kicked out of Eden

→Red Hook: Ikea hires 17 cops to handle Red Hook traffic

Reader Feedback

TSW from El Slope-0 says:

Basically you want Wal-Mart's ads.
You think service in bad in Target?
It's even worse in a Wal-Mart.
And their employment practices are even worse than those rumored at a certain Brooklyn weekly.

June 13, 2008, 1:12 am

Charles from PS,Bklyn says:

Stop dreaming, please. You'll give everyone in Brooklyn a nightmare.

Your editorial endorsing a Wall Mart in Brooklyn is so ... strange. Are we talking about the same company? The same company who spends millions of dollars lobbying Congress against American workers? The same company that actively works with Communist China against our fair market economy? The same company that kills small businesses, and in return, sells the cheapest, creepiest stuff in the world? The same company that lets the government pick up the medical insurance tab for a large amount of its workers?

No, can't be. This must be my mistake. We must be talking about different companies, as supporting a Wall Mart in Brooklyn is like saying "I don't understand Brooklyn."

The Brooklyn Paper has never shown itself to be that out-of-touch with the borough it resides. I must be me.

June 13, 2008, 4:04 am

Jeff Behrens from Williamsburg says:

"Which brings us to Wal-Mart, whose revolutionary combination of size, selection and price has lowered the cost of living for millions of Americans."

...and also has tens of thousands of employees that -- forget about a living wage -- can't even hoist themselves above the poverty line. Is cheap, low quality crap worth the consequences for labor? (The answer is 'no').

"we also believe that if it opened a truly urban store, Brooklyn consumers — and their dollars — would bend the chain towards our values"

Give me an example (having to do with Wal Mart) in which this has actually been the case and I'll happily back off.

June 13, 2008, 11:39 am

Ed Weintrob (Brooklyn Paper) says:

Our editorial reiterates what the editorial board has said in the past: We would welcome a Wal-Mart in Brooklyn, under the conditions stated in the editorial.

The editorial board believes that while the interaction of Wal-Mart and Brooklyn can make Wal-Mart a better company, most people in Brooklyn would, in any event, appreciate the opportunity to shop there.

June 13, 2008, 1:52 pm

Jessica from Carroll Gardens says:

Wal-Mart has a presense in many "liberal" areas. Doesn't seem to have had an impact on their immoral practices.

I would strongly oppose a Wal- Mart in the County of Kings and I would hope that my local paper shared that view.

June 13, 2008, 4:48 pm

ROSALIE907 from GRAVESEND says:

Take a hike. We don't want WalMart here in Brooklyn or anyplace else in NYC.

June 13, 2008, 9:59 pm

Dean from PH says:

I do not understand the Brooklyn Paper. They support every development plan except Atlantic Yards.

June 14, 2008, 12:20 am

Steve from Bay Ridge says:

Boy, you've flipped your lid on this one.

How would Wal-Mart draw business to other Mom & Pops in the neighborhood? Especially, if it offers similar goods for cheaper prices.

It would drain locally owned businesses who would shut down, so that we could enjoy Wal-Mart's cheap prices through slave-labor.

Yeah, That works!

Come on, BP. Wake up!

June 14, 2008, 12:21 pm

M from Ye Old Border says:

So you want to create a permanent underclass in NYC along with increased crime, environmental problems from utter ineptitude & a den of lawsuits waiting to happen??? I've shopped in Wal-Mart elsewhere; NO THANK YOU!!!!! There's much better service & quality in the Mom & Pop shops.

Are you smoking crack or just living in an ivory tower? I can see someone is being bought by Wal-Mart's execs. Why not take their bribe & give it to the underpaid Wal-Mart workers who deserve it? How about to the women & minorities who have suffered discrimination at the hands of Wal-Mart management? And are YOU going to pay the higher taxes to cover the welfare we're all going to have to pay b/c Wal-Mart refuses to provide benefits or pay a decent wage???

June 14, 2008, 7:11 pm

Rich Tan from Bhurst says:

these people are paid by the unions; target has more china content than walmart; walmart offers better prices than bj or costco and you don't have to buy a bunch; workers in any of these mass marketers aren't going to make a living wage, it's the nature of the business; walmart is no worse than mcd's in trying to influence pols re entry level workers and minimum wage; this is strictly union bs; go outside the city line to nassau or any upstate walmart and at least the prices are fairer for the same china junk that everybody sells.

June 15, 2008, 1:32 pm

Ernst from Gowanus says:

Interesting to read the objections to WalMart based on employment practices, service, morals, etc. While I don't disagree with these objections, I don't see how opposing a WalMart on Fulton Mall addresses them. I agree with the editorial that putting retail near transit, in the heart of the city (not on the Belt Parkway), within walking distance to so much cannot be bad. Then we can picket without driving our SUVs to the 'burbs.

June 16, 2008, 12:08 am

PJ from Williamsburg says:

When I'm in Florida I shop at Walmart, but in Brooklyn I'd much rather watch the Nets!

June 16, 2008, 12:45 pm

Chidori from Downtown Brooklyn says:

I live 2 blocks from fulton mall and I would love to have a Target AND WalMart nearby.
It's easy to complain and argue against WalMart with words. But at the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of consumers will let their wallet speak for themselves by shopping at WalMart. We'll all shop there because prices there are great and it's very convenient to get whatever you need... If selection is an issue then order the special items you need online. If you feel WalMart will take advantage of you as a worker there, then don't work for WalMart.
Our society will only get better through efficient business practices. Why would you support and pay high premiums to inefficient and wasteful "smaller" stores. It just doesnt make sense.
In the past it took weeks for you to receive a package via online orders, now , even with free shipping options, I can get packages in 2-3 days.
this would not be made possible without large, well oiled companies constantly innovating and improving business practices.

June 16, 2008, 6:37 pm

Allen Strouse from East Village says:

Wal-Mart has "lowered the cost of living"?

More like, lowered the STANDARD of living

with atrociously-low wages and a sick habit of driving other companies out of business, Wal-Mart is great at bankrupting communities, exploiting workers in the U.S. and abroad---all while funneling trillions back to Arkansas

what kind of misguided editorial board endorses Wal-Mart? are they paying you off?

June 17, 2008, 11:26 am

WMFNYC from Astoria says:

You guys have gone nuts! You think the retailers at the Fulton Mall would survive if Wal-Mart anchored the strip?? Your article doesn't address the number of bad jobs Wal-Mart will create for the neighborhood, increase traffic and force the doors to shut on many mom & pop stores who won't even be able to come close to compete with Wal-Mart's prices.

http://nywalmart.blogspot.com/2008/06/brooklyn-paper-dreaming-of-another-wal.html

June 17, 2008, 5:35 pm

Mac from Flatbush says:

This editorial is utter lunacy. Wal-Mart stands for pretty much everything that the overwhelming majority of Brooklynites despise. They abuse their workers, skimp on security (the result of which is people dying), destroy local businesses and harm the environment. What I just described is just the tip of the iceberg.

Their prices are good, yes, but the marginal savings that shoppers accrue from buying at Wal-Mart nowhere approach the cost that a community incurs when Wal-Mart invades an area.

The other thing that others have spoken to here is how surprising the Brooklyn Paper's stance is. My God. It's like you people have been working as a press secretary in the White House lately or something.

June 17, 2008, 7:05 pm

Robert from Park Slope says:

There is nothing to stop Walmart from opening a store in NYC. If they follow the same laws that all other businesses follow, they have the same right as anyone else. The problem is that Walmart wants special privileges to allow them to open stores that our zoning regulations forbid. We need not change our laws to accommodate Walmart.

June 18, 2008, 1:13 pm

Stan from Gravesend says:

Walmart in Brooklyn would be great news! The vast majority of people who opposre Walmart don't work and don't shop there, so their opinion is irrelevant. Brooklynites will benefit from Wallmart. Not everybody can afford to shop at the ineffecient mom and pop shops.

June 29, 2008, 3:14 pm

NYGal from Brooklyn says:

I think a Walmart in Brooklyn would benefit the people who need the low prices they offer. For those who oppose Walmart- just don't shop there. If the workers choose to get paid low wages that's their problem. I'm not saying they don't deserve to be paid better, but they choose to stay working there. Plus, not all Walmarts are the same. There is good service and bad service in many stores. Many places still pay under minimum wage. Businesses get destroyed everyday and that's just a part of life. Life changes and for those who are competing with Walmart (like the mom and pop shops) are going to have to just deal with it.

July 13, 2008, 5:51 am

MaryP from Mill Basin says:

I recommend that the editors at the Brooklyn Paper and everyone else see the documentary Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices, which explores the effects of having a Wal-Mart in your community. The most shocking being that Wal-Mart employees who cannot afford the high cost of medical coverage are encouranged and guided to go on public assistance. Additionally, Wal-Mart often receives local subsidies from the towns they invade, which local mom and pops do not.

Do we want this for Brooklyn??

Oct. 4, 2008, 5:21 pm

Holly from Williamsburg says:

Please say NO to Wal-Mart!! The over all prices are not any different from any other store. I am from the land of Wal-Marts and I completely disagree with their business practices. They come in, take over and you are left with under paid employees and cheap products. Why would you want this??

April 9, 2010, 5:24 pm

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