Are you glad there is a second Wal-Mart in town? / LJWorld.com

Previous Next

Asked at Massachusetts Street on April 30, 2009

Browse the archives

“Yes … I think they needed one on that end of town.”

— Bev Lockwood, food service manager, Lawrence

“No, I’m not. I feel like one was excessive.”

— Trent Banks, baker, Jackson, Miss.

“No. I think that it does pull business away from the local businesses that we have.”

— Emily Pounds, geography major, Kansas City, Mo.

“I didn’t know there was one.”

— Alex Parmelee, medical student, Greeley, Colo.

Lawrence’s newest Wal-Mart opens to public

Delicious
Digg
Tumblr
Wordpress
Reddit
Copy and paste the link:

LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

“I didn’t know there was one.”
— Alex Parmelee, medical student, Greeley, Colo.

Uh, Doctor, I'd like a second opinion................
April 30, 2009 at 5:44 a.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

I give it 5 years. Then Walmart will announce expansion plans doubling the existing size of the new store, complaints will follow and Walmart will have it their way. Eventually 4 blocks of downtown Lawrence will be leveled for a new Sam's Club. Then I will shop downtown again
April 30, 2009 at 6:14 a.m.
scaramouchepart2 (anonymous) says…

You can tell that the JW supported this with all the stupid articles on it. Wish JW would give free advertizing to a business that needs it.
April 30, 2009 at 6:22 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Let the whining begin.
April 30, 2009 at 7:02 a.m.
roger_o_thornhill (anonymous) says…

Where's Tesco? Would be nice if someone else were giving the Great-Wal a run for its money. Sure wasn't much fanfare over new store opening. I drive by everyday and couldn't tell for the last couple of weeks whether the joint was open or not. On the rare occasions I find myself dodging knuckleheads and unattended children @ the Great-Wal (I know not everyone is like that there, it is just that those are the people that actually require a strategy in order to maneuver around. Everyone else understands how to act in public. Plus the aisles there are remarkably narrow for such large stores) , I ain't giving them money that I wasn't already going to give to another mega-corporation. I wish they did things better, but I vote with my dollars (both of them) and avoid the Wal until I can't ignore it anymore. I hope the new one is less zany than the other one--if I am going, I'd at least like a fighting chance. I hope they get on the trolley a bit with reigning in the "maximize profits at all costs" folks (that was supposed to be sort of a joke, but I don't think it worked so well). ...you know, "at all costs" ,,,you know, because you'd really want to minimize costs in order to maximize profits...he he. Seriously though,
April 30, 2009 at 7:47 a.m.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…

As original bob would say, move on. Let the SLT begin,
April 30, 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
preebo (anonymous) says…

RoeDapple - you don't like downtown? Good move west. I hear Topeka has three Wal-Marts. Sound like your kinda place, huh?

I did like your retort from yesterday. Ha, Superman in dirty underwear, nice.
April 30, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Xbusguy is in my head!

It is over. You anti-box store folks might want to re-organize and get a better game plan for the soon to be proposed Costco.
April 30, 2009 at 8:03 a.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

I do not shop at Wal-Mart. The new one is just another one to not get my business. Wal-Mart has nothing I want that cannot be purchased elsewhere.
April 30, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
dancemomx2 (Sheila White) says…

I'm glad to see it open. Nothing against local business, I was born and raised here, so I say support them when you can. I though can not afford to buy clothes downtown, expect during the sidewalk sale. I have a family and my children would each have 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shoes, etc.(you get the pic), if I had to shop downtown. I do like the second hand stores also. We do love some of the eating establishments and frequent them when we can. We also enjoy the Watkins Museum and just walking down Mass on a nice Sunday afternoon.

So in short I say support them both. If you don't like Walmart don't shop there, that's just less people I have to worry about. I will continue to support both.
April 30, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.
Practicality (anonymous) says…

Alright, now all we need is a costco or a Sam's Club.
April 30, 2009 at 8:57 a.m.
Andini (anonymous) says…

Nobody likes to shop at WalMart. Nobody. The other shoppers hurt you, sometimes very badly. First you shop because your father wants you to. Then you shop to get the girls. If you keep on shopping, you do it for scholarships, and to get the girls. Then you shop for the money and the girls. Then you get to just watch the shoppers, and that’s fun. But nobody likes to shop at WalMart. Nobody.
April 30, 2009 at 9:01 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

Not glad, not sad.

I am however looking at bringing a McCurry's to Lawrence.
McCurry's - "Home food, away from home, Tasty and so Gooood..."
April 30, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

build it and they will come. just don't buy the beef. It's tainted.
April 30, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.
charliejohnson (anonymous) says…

And seriously...it's the same old thing. 3 threads about it???
And autie is right..the meat is tainted!!!!!!
April 30, 2009 at 9:36 a.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

Irrelevant ambivalence for now. Glad would never be my feelings when I am required to go there. It is the only place in town for fishing tackle.

Autie, the source of the taint is? Are the cows playing with Chinese toys or drinking their baby formula? Are they spreading the swine flu to grow their market share?
April 30, 2009 at 9:38 a.m.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…

Glad would never be my feelings when I am required to go there.
-------------------------------
prospector- I share your misery.... but they do have fishing tackle..... so off I go to Wally World, mask and all..
April 30, 2009 at 9:42 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

prospector...when they opened our new super center some years back, I go and look at these apparently pretty nice KC strips and ribeyes..so I try it. The ones in the boxes. They squirt some noxious chemical in the sealed package to keep the meat nice and pink. I could taste it after cooking..yuck-a-delic. Never again. The pork and chicken is ok, cause Mr. Tyson has already wrapped it at their plant..but the beef just has an awful flavor from that gas....
and If I never got snagged again or broke my line, they would miss out on thousands of dollars in sinker, hook, line sales..maybe a few snap swivels.
April 30, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

xbus and Prospector -

Yep, about the only time I find myself in there is for lures and such. Get there super early in the morning and avoid the lines. Make a quick exit before the hoards arrive.
April 30, 2009 at 10:02 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

oh my, what a shock. A big system of thunderstorms and showers moving on me. Anybody got any gopher wood?
April 30, 2009 at 10:12 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Autie - You able to fish from your desk this morning?
April 30, 2009 at 10:17 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

I generally don't go there, even for tackle.
With all those cameras in the ceiling, I know they have been co-opted into the InfraGard. When Obama institutes Directive 51, and NorthCom (under the guise of FEMA) is control under Martial Law to control the Swine flu, Walmart will be a designated control point, all other places will be shut down.
Thats why they shipped all the antiviral medicines to Forbes Field.
April 30, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

R_I -

Better stock up now. They already know everything about you. When the feces goes down, I'll be in the underground bunker wondering why I stocked up on fishing tackle. Maybe Prospector can design a pond. That'll give us something to do while the warloads duke it out above ground.
April 30, 2009 at 10:29 a.m.
Gootsie (anonymous) says…

Andini is in the house!

I avoid wal-to-wal mart for the most part. They are one of the few places that sell really pretty matching (in caps) bras and panties. Oh, and lures. Wait - is that the same thing?
April 30, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

TOB, they river has actually gone down since about one this morning. Last look, it was only six inches above flood stage, which is nothing. But..more precip on the way.
April 30, 2009 at 10:36 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Autie - Is the rain going to put a damper on the parade tomorrow?
April 30, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

Those parades are only for the enemy of my blood. Us French pinko commies won't dance around poles like heathens but we will eat the candy.
April 30, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Do they have white box Winchester .45ACP in stock?
April 30, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

you people and your ammo problems..don't you have all the dies and presses with tons of rounds/casing/powder? You cannot depend of the man.
April 30, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

T_O_B,
Maybe you can stock your cistern?
April 30, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…

MD, quit picking on us.... just because we like to fish and modify our tackle boxes.... oh,whoops, better stop now while I still have a chance. might of just outed myself.
April 30, 2009 at noon
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

"Nobody likes to shop at WalMart. Nobody. The other shoppers hurt you, sometimes very badly."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I would love to have details about this. Did you require an ambulance and a trip to the hospital? Bones broken? Bruises? You can't just leave us hanging like this.
I can assure you I have never been hurt at Walmart, physically or emotionally and I have shopped there a couple of days a week for years.
I love to shop at Walmart and I am not the only one. I don't need to go to another store for anything.
I enjoy kids just being kids, I don't like it when parents are really repressive to their children.
April 30, 2009 at 12:21 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

TOB -

I'm just going to go ahead and assume the snakes will call the cistern home.
April 30, 2009 at 12:31 p.m.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…

I'm not to excited about it. Wal Mart kills small business then offers those workers jobs at ridiculously low salaries and meager benefits. Oh, and the bathrooms and eating areas are always disgusting.
April 30, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Irish, Andini is referring to an inside LJW joke. He posted that same text talking about football a couple of years ago & it gets hauled out & re-edited to fit new topics. I've posted it myself a couple of time.
April 30, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

MD..just make sure and use plastic. I'm afraid a glass bottle wouldn't fair too well coming through the gates at Toronto.

Irish, what are you talking about? Seeing parents beat their kids in walmart is half the fun...for us, that is on Tuesdays. I'm convinced each group has their own different shopping night. With Saturday being an open day free for all.
April 30, 2009 at 12:47 p.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

Bob, are you talking to yourself? Time for a beer, you have been working on the project too long.
April 30, 2009 at 12:54 p.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

Snap, credit needs to be given where credit is due. Andini just took it to a new level.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/oct...
April 30, 2009 at 1 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Oh, lord. I've done, gone and lost it.

Aren't we due for another Ben LTE?
April 30, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

Oh, lord. It is raining again.
April 30, 2009 at 1:49 p.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

I think T_O_B is telling us all to stick with the canned bacon...
April 30, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Hold everything. I just looked at the Wal-Mart photo on the front page. Wal-Mart has a company cheer? I now pull my apathy for Wal-Mart. Company cheer/chant? No surprise that May Day falls during the grand opening weekend of the new store.

Mmmmm, canned bacon.
April 30, 2009 at 2:14 p.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

Bob, can you read the body language of their "associates".

http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/2009/a...

Wal-Mart Cheer

Give me a W!
Give me an A!
Give me an L!
Give me a squiggly!
Give me an M!
Give me an A!
Give me an R!
Give me a T!

What's that spell?
Wal-Mart!

Whose Wal-Mart is it?
It's my Wal-Mart!

Who's number one?
The customer! Always!
April 30, 2009 at 2:57 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Yep, Prospector. They've already been brainwashed.
April 30, 2009 at 2:59 p.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Prospector, well, dunk my hat in the creek. I've been going around thinkin andini was the original author of that.
I sit corrected.
April 30, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Andini is the genious that started inserting different subjects where football was originally placed. He's earned a lifetime Golden Fruitcake from the Big OTS!
April 30, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

Of course they have a chant..they're a cult. All cults have chants..the wal mart keeps drawing you back....falling prices, falling prices..
April 30, 2009 at 4:52 p.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

prospector thanks for the link. I read the comments. It's funny what gets people all worked up isn't it? Do you remember who The Hammer was and what team he played for? And, who was it that took him down?
I know, because I was there at the game.
I love football, absolutely, totally and completely.
April 30, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.
bluerayborn (anonymous) says…

Hey Y'all...
WalMart sucks. The Merc sucks! Let's get a Trader Joe's!!!
April 30, 2009 at 6:28 p.m.
bluerayborn (anonymous) says…

Yes Spacehog. That 80 cent toothbrush is likely from China, likely toxic and made by a 3 year old child in awful factory conditions. But at least you saved a buck twenty.
April 30, 2009 at 6:32 p.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

"Andini is the genious that started inserting different subjects where football was originally placed."

Not to burst bubbles, but that's been going on in Fark's commentary boards for a long time. That particular quote did not start with Ben Berteldes.
April 30, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
Meatwad (anonymous) says…

Definitely not. They won't be happy until they have put nearly every store and type of business out of business. Then we will have no choices except to buy their cheap, poor quality crap, which they will then have a monopoly on and raise prices. Their prices on some things are cheaper but not everything. They just hope to lure you in with the few cheaply priced things so you'll then buy everything else too.
April 30, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

spacehog
I get a new toothbrush every six months from my dentist. Last one cost $88.00 (he probably got it from Walmart)
April 30, 2009 at 8:32 p.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

I get mine from the dentist, too, along with dental floss.
April 30, 2009 at 10:01 p.m.
redmoonrising (anonymous) says…

Autie, isn't that "Oui French pinko commies?" Sorry, couldn't resist. I live near the new Walmart. I'm afraid to leave my house for fear of being hit by those falling prices. My biggest fear is that after years of avoiding the place I might now be temped, Lord help me, to set foot in the new one. Everyone tells me not to buy meat there. Speaking of fishing, lure the suckers in. Once bought some clothing there that almost lasted one season. Even purchased health and beauty items cheaper at the grocery store. Before the new store, I would have had to drive about 30 minutes. The savings in gas and time were worth it to me to buy a toothbrush for $2.00. I'll probably check it out in a few weeks when the furor dies down, assuming there is one. Then I'll head back to the grocery store and the internet like usual for my shopping.
April 30, 2009 at 10:51 p.m.
Dejacrew423 (anonymous) says…

No I'm not happy because they're both equally far away from me and a pain in the butt to get to. Plus I've gone to the new walmart 3 times thinking it was supposed to be open the first of April and it wasn't. I'm guessing by this question that it finally is open. Now if they would have put the walmart at Tanger Outlet.....that would have been really nice!!!
May 1, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.
Gootsie (anonymous) says…

MD, wow - I was busy yesterday and didn't get back here. As usual, all awesome posts! Thanks for the idea - however, I've already made the tackle box and bunker calendars, so we need to move to something else. Maybe a bobblehead with matching bobbling, well, never mind.

TOB, at least if you are posting to yourself, you can set yourself up to post clever things back. Wait - some people already do that! :)
May 1, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

Articles on Corporate Welfare and Corporate Tax Issues
Corporate Tax Evasion and Tax Rate Issues

Apr 2007
Big Tax Breaks for Big Boxes (Syracuse Post Register)

Feb 2007
Wal-Mart Cuts Taxes by Paying Rent to Itself (Wall St. Journal)

Feb 2007
Wal-Mart: Always Low Taxes (Baltimore Sun)

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate...
May 1, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.
ralphralph (anonymous) says…

Did somebody up there say Tyson chicken was OK?
Gag me!
It's shot full of sugar water and who knows what else, and tastes very little like good chicken ought to. Tyson is awful ... read the ingredients and see how much of it is something besides chicken.
May 1, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.