posted on May 24, 2004 09:43:50 AM new
WASHINGTON - Famous for its fall foliage, quaint towns and covered bridges, the state of Vermont — and its charm — is threatened by a corporate behemoth, a nonprofit preservation group warned on Monday. The alleged culprit: Wal-Mart.
Because of plans for several new Wal-Mart Supercenters across the state, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has placed the entire state of Vermont on its 2004 list of the most endangered historic places in the United States.
The 10 other sites on the list include Nine Mile Canyon in Utah, with its 10,000 Native American rock-art images; the Ridgewood Ranch in northern California, the home and final resting place of legendary racehorse Seabiscuit; and Pennsylvania's Bethlehem Works steel plant.
Vermont is the only state ever to make the annual list in its entirety.
Richard Moe, president of the trust, said Vermont's "special magic" would vanish with the onslaught of the giant stores.
"Vermont is uniquely a state of small towns, and many of these downtowns would be decimated by this," Moe said. "A lot of small businesses just disappear in the face of a huge Wal-Mart."
Moe fears one giant retail store will attract others to the Green Mountain State. "It will totally change the character of Vermont over time, and that would be a tragedy," he said.
The state is making a rare reappearance on the trust's list. It was first listed back in 1993, when Vermont was the only state without a Wal-Mart, and the trust worried about impending plans for construction of several stores.
"We're not telling any communities that they shouldn't have a Wal-Mart," said Moe. "We simply want communities to have their eyes wide open when they make these decisions because it's within the ability of a community to affect the location, size and design of these stores."
One alternative, said Moe, would be to persuade the retailer to build smaller chains in existing buildings that have been abandoned or are otherwise not being used, saving rural landscapes and not having quite the devastating impact that a superstore would have.
posted on May 24, 2004 10:09:00 AM new
The size of the Wal-Mart store matters not, they will systematically target local competitors and out-price them until they have had enough. Once the elimination is complete they are home free, not many are willing to start a small operation that will compete directly with Wal-Mart. I have witnessed this many times in small communities through out Missouri.
posted on May 24, 2004 10:56:08 AM new
The same thing is happening to many smaller communities here. There were several where we used to spend a couple of days shopping at all the unique little stores each time we visited and since Walmart and other Superstores have moved in most of the little stores are gone now.
I partly blame the consumer for idolizing 'Made in China' goods and mostly shopping at Walmart and dollar stores but I also realize that they can find good bargains there so I see the attraction. It's difficult for little shops to compete when the leases are so high as well as the insurance costs.
Prices for goods from China are steadily rising now and it will be a shame in the future if that's our only choice of product because nothing will be manufactured in North America and if we only have stores like Walmart to go to.
posted on May 24, 2004 11:03:06 AM new
60 Minutes, I think it was, did a piece on Walmart several years ago. About how they'd move into an area, put all the small businesses out of business. Often they oversaturate an area with their stores, then when that becomes unprofitable, they close most of the stores they opened. Leave devastation behind them. I'll try to find the article later today...
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posted on May 24, 2004 12:12:06 PM new
Walmarts are not cheap either. You can find most of their imported junk at dollar stores cheaper. Also their groceries are a farce. I can buy meat much cheaper at the butcher shop, and better produce at the farm market for much less. Another item is clothing.....pure junk. If you wait you can get the good stuff at the malls for the same price walmart wants. Walmarts seem to attract the lower I.Q. folk, but they are being fooled.
posted on May 24, 2004 12:34:44 PM new
I've heard that they saturate an area with small stores to destroy the competition and then close the small stores in favor of a larger, super KMart. I would rather pay more that buy from such a ruthless organization.
posted on May 24, 2004 12:56:56 PM new
japanese did this with their products back in the sixties and seventies, came to north america, undercut everyone, and put everyone out of business, and then jacked up prices once competition was destroyed, i think there is a book on all this, zen and the art of war....
wally world is doing exactly what the japanese did.....
bottom line is the corperate world will rule all and the mom and pa businesses will be gone....slavery eventually.....with the help of government which we elect, so we should blame ourselves for allowing this to happen...
