Seattle-area retail discussion - Page 101

CrazyAboutCities · October 8th, 2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

That is completely incorrect. A store can't be banned.

We have zoning though, and expensive land. The land for a typical suburban-style walmart on the Eastside or in Seattle would be more expensive than construction. And some cities (not sure about locally) have zoned against stores above a certain size.

Well... Two of my old hometowns officials made it clear that they don't want Wal-Mart store in the city limit period. They mentioned that they will never allow Wal-Mart build their store(s) in the city limit no matter what. They welcomed Target, Costco, Best Buy, etc. but Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart Inc. filed lawsuit against my old hometown for being unfair and tried to force them to allow them to build a new store but they lost. There is a good film; WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price. That film also shows growing list of US cities saying No to new Wal-Mart stores.

mhays · October 8th, 2009, 07:21 AM

They might want to stop walmart, but they can't legally treat them any differently...at least on the surface. This is basic constitutional law.

The solution is to pass zoning laws regarding square footage, types of use, etc., to discourage walmart. For example, they can probably say that any store that sells food can't also sell guns, or something along those lines.

Backstrom · October 8th, 2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

They might want to stop walmart, but they can't legally treat them any differently...at least on the surface. This is basic constitutional law.

The solution is to pass zoning laws regarding square footage, types of use, etc., to discourage walmart. For example, they can probably say that any store that sells food can't also sell guns, or something along those lines.

However, on the other hand, cities can provide special incentives and B&O tax breaks for companies that they want to draw in.

alexjonlin · October 8th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Well I know how the state makes things apply only to Seattle is say "all cities over 500,000 residents." They probably find a way to do that. It's probably very easy.

mhays · October 8th, 2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backstrom

However, on the other hand, cities can provide special incentives and B&O tax breaks for companies that they want to draw in.

With B&O tax, they have to set policy for an entire category. With Russell for example, it was some sort of financial service company where Russell happens to be the only one in Seattle.

Grayproduct · October 8th, 2009, 11:19 PM

Or to Boeing with the language of "next generation airliner", which of course, is limited to tax breaks on the production of the 787.

just4ivaylo · October 8th, 2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzChristopher

Well Covington fought having a Walmart for years. In the end they at least got them to agree not to build a Super Walmart, make it look kind of like a barn, and build a trail in the parking lot.

The Puget Sound doesn't have a lot of Walmarts because Walmart was slow to expand into Washington. By the time they did, people had grown their huge distaste for the place.

That and who needs Walmart when you have Costco, Fred Meyer, and Target?

Down here in Arizona I can't throw a rock without hitting one. At least they are open 24 hours I guess.

Wal-Mart is nothing like Costco, Fred Meyer, and Target. Wal-Mart is dirt cheap.

It's a good thing there aren't many. I know if one opened in Bellevue it would put a huge strain on Safeway, Albertson, Fred Meyer, and QFC.

Black Box · October 9th, 2009, 05:50 AM

^Gig Harbor had a similar fight in the 90's. I know there's one somewhere north of Silverdale. Not a pat on the back, just the way it is, but I've never been to a Wal-Mart. They've always been inaccessible to me and it doesn't fit my typical shopping habits.

RMacherat · October 9th, 2009, 10:10 AM

The Walmart arrangement works well for our area. People from Seattle and the eastside can drive down to Renton and shop with little risk of being seen.

BellevueGuy · October 9th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just4ivaylo

Wal-Mart is nothing like Costco, Fred Meyer, and Target. Wal-Mart is dirt cheap.

It's a good thing there aren't many. I know if one opened in Bellevue it would put a huge strain on Safeway, Albertson, Fred Meyer, and QFC.

Not to be a snob.... I doubt many people in Bellevue will go to Walmart.

I've been to the one in Renton once, just not a very pleasant experience.

The Walmarts I've been to on East Coast seems to be better for some reason.

alexjonlin · October 10th, 2009, 12:21 AM

I doubt (m)any people from the city Seattle go to Wal-Mart.

CrazyAboutCities · October 10th, 2009, 01:46 AM

Yeah. I used to shop at Wal-Mart sometime when I was young until I found out the truths about Wal-Mart and I stopped shopping there since. That would be around ten years now. I have been to many US cities and I think Seattle metro area is only one metro area in US I have been, have very fewer Wal-Mart stores. I hope it will keep that way.

just4ivaylo · October 10th, 2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellevueGuy

Not to be a snob.... I doubt many people in Bellevue will go to Walmart.

I've been to the one in Renton once, just not a very pleasant experience.

The Walmarts I've been to on East Coast seems to be better for some reason.

I'll accept that. I know a lot of people won't since they only go to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

My family used to shop at the Renton Wal-Mart quite often when we first came to America. It seemed amazing at first, having everything in one place. I do agree though. The shopping experience in Renton is horrible. The shelves are unorganized and the staff is not helpful. It seems like it doesn't perform as well as many of their other stores (go figure, it's always full of people).

RMacherat · October 10th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Whoosh

AzChristopher · October 10th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just4ivaylo

Wal-Mart is nothing like Costco, Fred Meyer, and Target. Wal-Mart is dirt cheap.

It's a good thing there aren't many. I know if one opened in Bellevue it would put a huge strain on Safeway, Albertson, Fred Meyer, and QFC.

I shop at Fry's, our version of Fred Meyer in Arizona, a lot and thanks to Walmart they drop prices on a lot of their goods. But they still survive just fine. So does Safeway, Albertsons, Target, and all the other ones. The only chain down here having really bad issues is the local chain, called Bashas.

K-Mart has really cheap stuff and having one in Bellevue didn't destroy all those stores. Bellevue is a lot more than just the downtown core and does include lower income areas as well.

just4ivaylo · October 11th, 2009, 04:56 AM

Yeah, and I used to live in the lower income areas, one of them being Eastgate. An average house is still $400,000, and is 50-55 years old. However you spin it, Bellevue is an expensive area.

K-Mart didn't have food. The reason I think many stores would started seeing less business is because of Wal-Mart's cheap food products.

CrazyAboutCities · October 11th, 2009, 06:53 PM

Yep. Same with drug stores. Soon it will hurt banks too when Wal-Mart start to do banking business soon when they get the permit from the government. I don't know what is their current status.

RMacherat · October 11th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Possibly not the best example of the horrors of Wal-Mart edging out other businesses.

Seasun · October 12th, 2009, 01:54 AM

I just walked by a storefront on Stewart between 2nd and 3rd - sign says coming soon: The Night Kitchen. nightkitchenseattle.com. Hours are supposed to be 6pm-9am. Looks like a good menu. Opening 10/31 according to the site.

RMacherat · October 12th, 2009, 09:14 AM

This is terrific news, and I bet it will do well. I'm going by memory here, but that late night menu seems a shade risky after putting away the quantities I used to.

October 8th, 2009, 11:19 PM	#2006
Grayproduct Registered Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: dawghaus Posts: 443 Likes (Received): 6	Or to Boeing with the language of "next generation airliner", which of course, is limited to tax breaks on the production of the 787. __________________ What we've got here is failure to communicate.

October 12th, 2009, 01:54 AM	#2019
Seasun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,561 Likes (Received): 43	All night dining option I just walked by a storefront on Stewart between 2nd and 3rd - sign says coming soon: The Night Kitchen. nightkitchenseattle.com. Hours are supposed to be 6pm-9am. Looks like a good menu. Opening 10/31 according to the site.

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October 8th, 2009, 07:21 AM	#2002
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,390 Likes (Received): 119	They might want to stop walmart, but they can't legally treat them any differently...at least on the surface. This is basic constitutional law. The solution is to pass zoning laws regarding square footage, types of use, etc., to discourage walmart. For example, they can probably say that any store that sells food can't also sell guns, or something along those lines.

October 8th, 2009, 07:45 AM	#2004
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,271 Likes (Received): 87	Well I know how the state makes things apply only to Seattle is say "all cities over 500,000 residents." They probably find a way to do that. It's probably very easy.

October 9th, 2009, 05:50 AM	#2008
Black Box Black Box Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 907 Likes (Received): 26	^Gig Harbor had a similar fight in the 90's. I know there's one somewhere north of Silverdale. Not a pat on the back, just the way it is, but I've never been to a Wal-Mart. They've always been inaccessible to me and it doesn't fit my typical shopping habits.

October 9th, 2009, 10:10 AM	#2009
RMacherat Buy used books Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,740 Likes (Received): 88	The Walmart arrangement works well for our area. People from Seattle and the eastside can drive down to Renton and shop with little risk of being seen.

October 10th, 2009, 12:21 AM	#2011
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,271 Likes (Received): 87	I doubt (m)any people from the city Seattle go to Wal-Mart.

October 10th, 2009, 01:46 AM	#2012
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,332 Likes (Received): 17	Yeah. I used to shop at Wal-Mart sometime when I was young until I found out the truths about Wal-Mart and I stopped shopping there since. That would be around ten years now. I have been to many US cities and I think Seattle metro area is only one metro area in US I have been, have very fewer Wal-Mart stores. I hope it will keep that way.

October 10th, 2009, 08:56 AM	#2014
RMacherat Buy used books Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,740 Likes (Received): 88	Whoosh

October 11th, 2009, 04:56 AM	#2016
just4ivaylo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,971 Likes (Received): 29	Yeah, and I used to live in the lower income areas, one of them being Eastgate. An average house is still $400,000, and is 50-55 years old. However you spin it, Bellevue is an expensive area. K-Mart didn't have food. The reason I think many stores would started seeing less business is because of Wal-Mart's cheap food products.

October 11th, 2009, 06:53 PM	#2017
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,332 Likes (Received): 17	Yep. Same with drug stores. Soon it will hurt banks too when Wal-Mart start to do banking business soon when they get the permit from the government. I don't know what is their current status.

October 11th, 2009, 08:36 PM	#2018
RMacherat Buy used books Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,740 Likes (Received): 88	Possibly not the best example of the horrors of Wal-Mart edging out other businesses.

October 12th, 2009, 09:14 AM	#2020
RMacherat Buy used books Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,740 Likes (Received): 88	This is terrific news, and I bet it will do well. I'm going by memory here, but that late night menu seems a shade risky after putting away the quantities I used to.