BROOKLYN [NY1] — In an exclusive interview with NY1, a high-level executive for Wal-Mart confirmed Tuesday that the retail giant is exploring opportunities to bring their big box stores to New York City, but says the corporate retailer has not settled on a specific location within the five boroughs.
Wal-Mart Explores Possibilities For Brooklyn Store
BROOKLYN [NY1] — In an exclusive interview with NY1, a high-level executive for Wal-Mart confirmed Tuesday that the retail giant is exploring opportunities to bring their big box stores to New York City, but says the corporate retailer has not settled on a specific location within the five boroughs.
Wal-Mart’s national director of community affairs, Steven Restivo, has been in the news lately over rumors that the superstore is planning to open an outlet in the newly built Gateway complex in East New York, Brooklyn. That is a move that could allow Wal-Mart to bypass City Council zoning approval for bringing the stores to the city.
Rumors of the possible move to Brooklyn have already brought protests from unions and small business leaders.
Restivo says that despite the fact that there is not a Wal-Mart store in the five boroughs, many New York City residents are already avid Wal-Mart shoppers. In fact, he says that New York City is the number one market in the country for Walmart.com, the company’s online arm.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has been a vocal opponent of bringing Wal-Mart into the city, and the council is set to hold hearings next week on the effects on small business if Wal-Mart is allowed to open stores here.
Restivo says that Wal-Mart has not decided if it will participate in those hearing, but says the company is willing to talk to anyone in the community about their concerns.
“My understanding about the hearing though is that it is a hypothetical exercise. We don’t have a store or an announced project anywhere in the five boroughs…,” said Restivo. “I think it is fair to say that we are evaluating lots of opportunities across all five boroughs — small medium and large store formats — but we haven’t announced any specific project.”
Finally, Restivo did confirm that Wal-Mart has been negotiating with some buildings trade unions to work out a deal to build and renovate outlets using union labor if the company does come to New York City.
Such an arrangement would likely cause a split within the labor movement, since the retail worker unions are steadfastly opposed to Wal-Mart.
valmart
We must have a valmart. It will save people a lot of time instead of driving to long island. It will also give the people that have nothing to do with their lives, a place to hang out. But the best part is that the boys and girls, don’t have to wait for the summer to hook up and catch up on the latest gossip. You can meet entire Bungalow colonies there, on Friday thru Sundays. Who has To go to the Country anymore. Meet you at Valmart, would be the saying. Maybe the Rabbonim could set up shop there. We could have Shadchonin working the aisles, for potential Shidduchim. In a rush the Rabbonim, could be Mesader Kidushim on the spot. Easy to put together a Minyan, Mincha, Maariv, I’m sure if Lubavitch is there you can even Daven Shachris! Kriyas Hatorah, not even a question. Valmart I love you. How many Shiduchim you made and don’t even know about . We could even get the Ohel bus, on the way to the ohel, to pass by. I can’t wait, please everybody be Mispallel to Hashem, that it happens Bekorev Mamesh. Amen VeAmen.
cv
it would be nice for us as consumers, but very cruel to our heimishe store owners.
mom of 4
bring Walmart 2 Brooklyn! we need cheaper prices!
victim of Wal-Mart
If you dare let Wal-Mart into your area you might just as well call yourself a rodef, because you’ll be killing every Mom & Pop store in the area.
mixt feelings
yhirs anough for every1. wallmat makes u spend ,ore money as you find cheep items you dont really need so you buy it any ways. you have to be strong to shop there as you may spend all your weeks earnings lol
think about it
Not that it will happen but lets say a wal-mart, target, sears or costco opens up in crown-height.
Lets say It will put every store out of business .
Who looses?
The stores that the department store put out of business or the schools, SHULS and all other community organizations that those stores employs and owners where supporting?
insider
For those fans of wal-mart or any other department store they do not have the best prices on everything and they do not have the best prices on all the products you buy you may think it but it is not so, every
every store has product that are cheaper than other stores and every store has products that are a complete rip off but you will never know because you don’t walk into every store.
The best you can do is compare prices on the stores web sites don’t forget to calculate shipping and tax to your zip code.
In the future there will be comparison shopping sites that have all products that are on the shelves of retail stores only then you will really be able to see who has the best prices.
From my experience those of you that really want the best prices on the products you buy.
The small stores beats the big stores on close outs as a result some small store can sell product half the price or even less than the big department stores.
how is it that the small stores can pick up these deals and the department stores can not?
Two reasons
(1)Very simple quantity, big stores will not buy small quantities.
(2)Lots of close outs come directly from these department stores and they sell it to other retailers below their cost and loose money on the deals
WALLMART
I LOVE TARGET. WHO NEEDS WALLMART. SAVE WALLMART FOR THE OUT OF TOWNERS. WALLMART IS GOOD FOR ONCE IN A WHILE. NOT AN EVERYDAY STORE TO SHOP. BUT I SAY TARGET- THEY HAVE GREAT SELECTION AND ITS FUN TO SHOP THERE, ITS MORE HIGH END THEN WALLMART.
I AGREE 100 %
WITH # 2,4,5,6 !!! WE DON’T NEED A WALL-MART HERE, WE ALREADY HAVE A BJ’S AND A COSTCO, IT’S ENOUGH!!!