Borough of Queens kills proposed Wal-Mart

[paineinthearse]

Just heard on Faux "News". City says it would put small businesses out of business. Sprawl-Mart is seeking other sites in the City.

.... details to follow.

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Edited to add following:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2005-02-24-wal-mart-nyc_x.htm

Wal-Mart can't shake its little town blues; NYC plan foiled

NEW YORK (AP) — A real estate developer scrapped plans to build the city's first Wal-Mart (WMT) store amid intense pressure from residents and union leaders. The decision, announced by city officials Thursday, is a blow to the retail giant, which has sought for years to move into the lucrative New York City market. The company had announced Dec. 6 that it would open a new store in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens.

Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Mia Masten said Wednesday the company had never signed a deal with the developer, Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), for the 132,000-square-foot space. She said Wal-Mart is still interested in exploring other locations in the city. Vornado spokeswoman Roann Kulakoss declined to comment Thursday.

Councilwoman Melinda Katz, head of the City Council Land Use Committee, said she received a call on Wednesday from Vornado's attorney that it had made the decision Tuesday night, and that it is looking for other tenants. Katz said the deal may have fallen through because of Wal-Mart's track record on labor issues.

<snip>

Small businesses feared Wal-Mart would drive many retailers out and residents near the site raised concerns about traffic and parking at the proposed site. Union leaders cited a list of labor offenses against the company, including a recent settlement of allegations that Wal-Mart violated child labor laws and the company's decision to close a Quebec store when workers moved to unionize.

more.....

[NC_Nurse]

1. YEEEAAAAHHHH!

That rocks! :toast: :toast:

[paineinthearse]

2. NYT - Developer Drops Plan for City's First Wal-Mart

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/nyregion/24walmart.html?pagewanted=print&position=&oref=login

February 24, 2005

Developer Drops Plan for City's First Wal-Mart
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Facing intense opposition, a large real estate developer has dropped its plans to include a Wal-Mart store in a Queens shopping complex, thwarting Wal-Mart's plan to open its first store in New York City, city officials and real estate executives said yesterday. The decision by the developer, Vornado Realty Trust, is a blow to Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, and comes after company officials said that New York City was an important new frontier in which Wal-Mart was eager to expand.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company was still exploring other sites in the city, but the possibility that the company would open a 132,000-square-foot store in Queens had immediately stirred a storm of opposition by neighborhood, labor and environmental groups as well as small businesses. Wal-Mart also faced opposition from many City Council members and several members of Congress.

Labor unions fought Wal-Mart with a special intensity because they believe its wage levels and benefits are pulling down standards for workers through the United States.

Melinda Katz, chairwoman of the Council's Land Use Committee, said a Vornado representative informed her yesterday that Vornado was no longer negotiating with Wal-Mart for it to be part of the mall planned for Rego Park, Queens, in 2008. "I think they just decided it's not worth the complications of having Wal-Mart," Ms. Katz said. "The idea of Wal-Mart was overshadowing what could very well be a good project."

more...

Charles V. Bagli and Colin Moynihan contributed reporting for this article.