Windy City Wal-Mart to Open in 2005
By George Anderson
Wal-Mart is looking to open its first store inside the Chicago city’s limits
by 2005. The company announced it has filed an application to open a 150,000
square foot Wal-mart store on Chicago’s West Side.
According to Reuters, “The proposed Chicago store would replace a vacant
shampoo factory formerly owned by Unilever NV (UNc), and create 100 to 200 construction
jobs and 250 store positions.”
There are those who oppose Wal-Mart’s entry into Chicago, saying it will hurt
local businesses and cost area residents jobs.
Moderator’s Comment: Is Wal-Mart good for local economies,
as it contends, or is it bad, as its critics allege?
Emma Mitts, the councilwoman for the Chicago West Side
district added a dose or reality to this particular debate. She told Reuters,
“That’s (loss of jobs) unlikely if we don’t have jobs for them to take away.”
[George
Anderson – Moderator]