Wal-Mart Abandons NYC Plans...For Now

Wal-Mart has decided not to New York Region > Plans for a City Wal-Mart Are Dropped" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/nyregion/24walmart.html?hp&ex=1109221200&en=3a35e2cb160fc5df&ei=5094&partner=homepage">continue plans to be in a Queens shopping mall after a lot of community and political opposition. According to the NY Times, Wal-Mart and Vornado Realty Trust, developers of the Rego Park project that would include other retail space and apartment towers, thought that Wal-Mart's continued presence would jeopardize the entire plan. What Gothamist found interesting is that apparently Vornado was hoping to keep it quiet that Wal-Mart was part of the proposal, in order to keep opposition to a minimum; it just seems so insulting and sneaky to try to hide that the country's biggest retailer might be moving into the neighborhood. Sure, Wal-Mart has low prices and people in the community could benefit from that, but Wal-Mart is a non-union shop and has treated employees badly - no matter what their ads want people to think. Now, if it were a Target, we imagine people would be close to dancing in the street. This comes after BJ's Wholesale Club decided not to build in the Bronx, though they may try again later.

Here's Wal-mart Watch, one of many sites dedicated to keeping an eye on the chain. And Wal-Mart is still hoping to move into the city.