October 12th, 2007 By Justin Williams
What Our Area DOESN’T Need: Another Freaking Wal-Mart
It’s looking more likely that Newburgh will become the latest city to receive a Super Wal-Mart. The store is planned for the giant piece of land on Bell Road across from Hardees and Premiere Video: a mere 4 miles from the East side store. While I recognize that gas is expensive these days, 4 miles!
Besides the minimal travel time issue, many Newburgh residents are opposing the new Wal-Mart will bring on a flooding problem and traffic congestion. The area the Wal Mart is being built on is known for flooding during heavy rains. Wal-Mart plans to elevate the land level of the store another six or ten feet, which may cause more water to seep into the drains rather than just holding in the field.
As a resident of Newburgh, I’m against this for a variety of political and logistical reasons. I’ll stick to driving to Target for my shopping needs. What’s your thoughts?
photo courtesy of Brave New Films
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barky
October 13, 2007 @ 10:31AM
Worse than another WallMart is their habit of closing stores when they build a new store nearby. How many vacant huge buildings can you think of in the area?
We are fortunate that the old Eastside Sam’s Club is being re-purposed as a call center.
Perhaps, our city planners or council could require WallMart to find a new tenant for their disused buildings prior to getting a permit for the new building?
Also, can’t we get one quality store in the area? A Nordstrom, a small Saks Fifth Avenue, something better then Dullard’s or Macy’s. A Whole Foods would be nice, too.
Teresa
October 13, 2007 @ 02:58PM
Why isn’t there an actual national chain supermarket in this area? Schnuck’s is merely regional…you have to drive to Owensboro to go to a Winn Dixie or Kroger. I’d much rather see a Meijer go in instead of yet another WalMart…but then again, I’s rather go to any WalMart other than the Eastside one…it’s the pits, as is the parking lot. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s (just for fun) or Sprouts would be fabulous.
sloppyJoe
October 14, 2007 @ 08:17AM
If it wasn’t another Wal Mart would everyone still be screaming NIMBY? (Not In My Back Yard)
I doubt it, especially if it was upscale. How about a Crate and Barrel or Z Gallerie or any dozens of other choices? Not likely, as Evansville is too Nascar and pick-up truck on a cultural and economic scale.
What if Menard’s chose here instead of Wal Mart?
I understand and share the concerns.
Jerry
October 14, 2007 @ 09:25AM
Why couldn’t they have built a Super Target on that spot? I love Super Target!
Teresa
October 14, 2007 @ 09:59AM
I’m not against WalMart…yeah, yeah…I know lots of people refer to it as “the evil place”. If I can save money there (and I do) I will continue to shop there. I’m against yet another big business overlooking their impact on the environment. It’s not even a NIMBY thing with me. I live downtown. Heck…I’d like to see a real grocery in downtown Evansville. If WalMart decided to build here I’d be the first to be grateful for it. Besides…it would give the hobos yet another place to hang out. It seems to me that Evansville wants to be “big city” but is quite delighted to stay “small town”. Nothing wrong with either description, but lots of money is spent on surveys and studies that produce nothing.
Bobby
October 15, 2007 @ 02:34AM
if im not mistaken sloppy joe i read a article the other day that a menards is being built here out on north green river road…i was right here is the link http://courierpress.com/news/2007/oct/13/menardscomingto-town/
Sami
October 15, 2007 @ 01:34PM
I’m a past resident of Evansville and I would shop at the East Side Wal-mart just because of the food prices. I would only go early in the morning though to avoid the trash there. I’m so glad Indy has more options. I love Meijer and won’t shop anywhere else for groceries. It’s cleaner than Wal-mart and has competitive prices. Meijer needs to help Evansville and now Newburgh out of the Wal-mart slump.
lauren
October 15, 2007 @ 03:01PM
i think they’re building this because is you go to the east side wal-mart you have to wait in guaranteed lines of 12 people. they could just fix that problem and not build a new wal-mart.
imaskeptic
October 15, 2007 @ 11:20PM
Has there been an official announcement from Wal Mart confirming that they are going to build on this site? If so, I missed it. The only announcement I am aware of is the one made by the developer, Greg Moore (or those working for him). He may be using the Wal Mart name as leverage to move ahead without completing infrastructure(which costs him money and may be “forgotten” about in the future since it was not on the original plat). His references include: 1. Westside Improvement Assoc - He got them to drop their opposition to an apartment complex he wanted to build near USI by telling them he wouldn’t rent to USI students. County Council would not approve plat if the Association oppposed. He did not have enough parking spaces to rent to more than 1 or 2 people per apartment. Said apartments are now inhabited almost entirely by USI students(3 or 4 per apartment, with cars)and they park along the side of the road(very dangerous walking to/from their cars along the road, but that is another story). 2. Bar on Greenriver Rd he had an interest in burned(suspicious, eventually ruled accidental). 3. Subdivision of upper end homes in Newburgh that has a short strip of gravel road as the entrance off Old Plank(how much could it cost to pave?).
sloppyJoe
October 16, 2007 @ 07:14AM
Bobby - I meant if Menards was building in the same location as the proposed Newburgh wallyworld….would folks still bang the drum as intensely?
Emily
April 10, 2008 @ 05:59PM
Well I work at the east side walmart as a cashier and I think that it is soooo sloowww there! I stand around half the time because there aren’t any people to check out. I don’t know about you but I like Walmart a lot…and I don’t really argee with building a new one 4 miles away but they will build where they want to so what are we to do?
your mom
October 16, 2008 @ 09:00PM
I work at the wal-mart in evansville (on east side).. i am happy about the new wal-mart!!… Stop bitching people!!! half the people that shop at wal-mart are from newburgh… and as a cashier i get a lot of gripey ass people who come when their in a hurry knowing all too well that they’re gonna have to wait in line for more than 2 mins… and then have the nerve to yell and put down the poor cashier who is trying to go as fast as they can… oh and god forbid we have to get a price check… hopefully when they build this new one we won’t be so packed all the time… i think people just like have something to complain about…
Suzanne Sherrod
October 29, 2008 @ 10:17PM
My friend and I were wondering, because I cannot remember for the life of me, but where was the OLD east side Walmart before we built the super center? I remember where Kmart was (current Best Buy), Target (now Big Lots) and what used to be Hills then Venture (Burlington). Can someone remind me? Thanks!
Warrick Reader
October 30, 2008 @ 07:34AM
Suzanne, I think it was in the shopping center where Value City Furniture and Gander Mountain now stand. I’m not for sure since by the time I moved to the area, the “old” Wal-Mart was gone. But I’m pretty sure I’ve heard people talk about the old east side Wal-Mart being in that general vicinity.
Justin Williams
October 30, 2008 @ 11:58AM
It was in the old Value City/Hobby Lobby area of that complex. They cut it into two different stores after Wal-Mart moved. Gander Mountain used to be a Buy Low grocery.