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Walmart Wars

Walmart Wars

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Walmart Loses Store In Brooklyn, Running Out Of Options in New York

Walmart just sent out another cryptic release about a store it will not be opening in New York. Last time, it was an outlet at Willets Point. This time, we learn it is an even more serious non-event: the big box bogeyman’s long-sought beachhead in Brooklyn is not happening.

According to Walmart spokesman Steve Restivo, the company could not reach an agreement with The Related Companies to anchor the developer’s Gateway project in East New York. Despite this setback, the company promised to keep trying. Read More

Walmart Wars

Walmart strikes out once again. (Related Companies)

Just How Desperate Is Walmart to Open in New York—And Have They Lost All Their Allies?

The press release came in even before The Observer had seen the initial report that prompted it.

“We have not had any talks with Walmart about a location at Willets Point and we have absolutely no intention of discussing this site with them,” the email statement read.

Who knew! And yet it made perfect sense, as the company has been looking for any opening imaginable in the city. Read More

Walmart Wars

pgmobile_walmart

Walmart on Wheels: Big Box Bogeyman Sneaks Into New York in a Procter & Gamble Food Truck

‘Tis the season for food trucks, with the warm weather meaning comfortable lines and more customers. For Walmart, this is more the season of discontent, with opposition to the store in New York growing on the heels of the big box retailer’s Mexican corruption scandal. Even long-time allies like the Related Companies have apparently given up on the southern-fried discounters.

But Walmart has hit upon a novel way to work its way into the city, on board a modified food truck run by partner company Procter & Gamble.

For the next month, @PGmobile will, in the tradition of the great food trucks to come before it, set up shops on street corners across the five boroughs, tweeting out its location and asking for suggestions on where to go next. Eight different products will be on offer—at Walmart’s everyday low prices, of course—from Iams dog food to Gillette razers and Pampers diapers.

The Walmart name appears but once, tucked away on the bottom of the truck, and it is nowhere to be found on the associated Twitter feed. Read More

Walmart Wars

A Walmart in P&G's clothing? (@PGmobile/Twitter)

Walmart on Wheels: Big Box Bogeyman Sneaks Into New York in a Procter & Gamble Food Truck

‘Tis the season for food trucks, with the warm weather meaning comfortable lines and more customers. For Walmart, this is more the season of discontent, with opposition to the store in New York growing on the heels of the big box retailer’s Mexican corruption scandal. Even long-time allies like the Related Companies have apparently given up on the southern-fried discounters.

But Walmart has hit upon a novel way to work its way into the city, on board a modified food truck run by partner company Procter & Gamble.

For the next month, @PGmobile will, in the tradition of the great food trucks to come before it, set up shops on street corners across the five boroughs, tweeting out its location and asking for suggestions on where to go next. Eight different products will be on offer—at Walmart’s everyday low prices, of course—from Iams dog food to Gillette razers and Pampers diapers.

The Walmart name appears but once, tucked away on the bottom of the truck, and it is nowhere to be found on the associated Twitter feed. Read More

Walmart Wars

Rotten tomatoes? (Getty)

Is Walmart Finished in New York? Greg David Seems to Think So, and That’s Bad for Walmart

Walmart is in a pickle, and not the kind that can be found in the canned goods aisle. Following the Mexican bribery scandal, pols high and low have reaffirmed their opposition to the store. But they are not the only ones. Even some of the big box retailers staunchest supporters have come out against the company, namely Greg David.

The Crain’s columnist and former editor for three decades of the influential business weekly is a big believer in capitalism and its important role in shaping the city—he just wrote a book about it. To that end, he has long supported Walmart’s efforts to open a store in the five boroughs (14 times at last count). Yet now, in light of the scandal, even Greg David doubts Walmart will ever open in New York. And he believes this is all Walmart’s fault. Read More

Walmart Wars

The unhappiest smiley face in the world. (Consumerist)

If Walmart Is Bad for the Environment, What About New York? Nevermind the Bribes

We bet all Walmart wants to do right now is sink down into one of its faux leather recliners and watch some stupid rom-com on a $199.98 flat screen. It’s been kind of  a rough weekend for America’s favorite mega-retailer.

First, there was the New York Times story about executives hushing up a vast Mexican bribery conspiracy to win market dominance. And now, in celebration of Earth Day, a local opposition group is going after the company’s environmental record. Read More

Walmart Wars

Can a smiley face even stand up? (Courtesy of Consumerist)

Walmart Calls for Community Input Everywhere But New York [Updated]

Oh, Walmart. Your time might be running out, but your efforts are no less persistent. The boxing gloves have been long thrown to the side, but New York’s bare knuckles have delivered some blows lately.

The problems aren’t limited to New York, either. Walmart is facing resistance in the Chinatown district in Los Angeles. The LA Times reported that City Council outlawed big box chains from opening up in the neighborhood last week.

But Walmart responded, quite shockingly, by saying that “it speaks volumes that the community was not consulted in the writing of the motion.” Riding the wave of input outcry, Walmart even called for community input in Aspen Hill, Md. last October.

But community input in New York? Walmart wants nothing of the sort. Read More

Walmart Wars

Picture 5

Hate Mail: Anti-Walmart Group Sends Postcards Slamming Steve Ross to All 7,200 Related Residents [Updated]

While Walmart refuses to say if, when or where it might finally open a store within the five boroughs, one of its favored sites is the Related Company’s Gateway Center Mall in the far reaches of Brooklyn. The area is economically depressed, meaning the cheap jobs and cheap merchandise are (theoretically) desirable. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union sees Walmart jobs as junk, and they have been campaigning against the store since it resurfaced a two years ago.

Today, they made things personal, not just with Steve Ross, Related’s founder and CEO, but also his more than 7,200 tenants in the New York area. Read More