By George Anderson
With all the dust being kicked up about Wal-Mart seeking to build stores in some communities, you might think the retail giant was simply running roughshod over local concerns and doing as it pleased once construction begins.
If you thought that, you'd be surprised to see the lengths Wal-Mart is going to blend into its surroundings in places such as the historic St. Thomas section of New Orleans.
The Times-Picayune reports, "The St. Thomas Wal-Mart is unique because of façade, parking, traffic flow and other intricate changes needed to fit into the historical neighborhood."
The concrete blocks on the exterior of the store are "colored to mimic the hues of 19th century masonry warehouses that lined Tchoupitoulas Street. The entrance façade is cut up in several steep elevations, breaking up the large, solid-wall front massive blue Wal-Mart sign seen in typical suburban formats."
In other locations, Wal-Mart has downsized its footprint with either a Neighborhood Market or a 99,000 square foot version of its Supercenter to fit the constraints of local markets. The retailer has its second Neighborhood Market in Louisiana under construction in Baton Rouge.
Moderator's Comment: Do Wal-Mart and other big box retailers take an unfair hit for failing to blend into local communities? How important will smaller formats such as Neighborhood Markets be to the continued growth of Wal-Mart and other big box retailers? - George Anderson - Moderator