Whether you’re a fan (or not) of Wal-Mart or you think that Bass Pro is the development to cheer for (or boo), it is easy to see that people are very opinionated about these projects. This morning a BRO reader sent along a link to an article featured on TradingMarkets.com. There were a few quotes within the article that I found interesting. Here's one:
"We're a suburban community and we struggled to find an identity," said Mickey Thompson, executive director of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. "Now we're identified as the place that has the Bass Pro Shop. We've gotten eight or 10 restaurants that spun off of it. We've gotten four or five major retail developments that have occurred in the area."
Whenever I hear statements like this I always try to envision what sort of spin-off Canalside will see when the project moves forward. I now hear that The Aud asbestos remediation is two months ahead of schedule and should be complete by September 31st. And the contract was signed for the Donovan Building remediation, which is scheduled to be completed by September 6th (the site should be ready by Spring '09).
And what will the area around Wal-Mart look like when that company eventually finds property here? There is more and more chatter regarding the company's interest in the city. Here's a recent statement issued by Philip Serghini, Wal-Mart spokesperson:
We currently have more than 100 stores in New York and employ more than 36,000 Wal-Mart associates. While we have no current plans for the city of Buffalo, we know there are a growing number of city residents who already shop and work at Wal-Mart stores. Currently, Buffalo residents spend close to $60 million at nearby Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs in Cheektowaga, Amherst, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Batavia, Warsaw, Clarence, Springville, Fredonia, Albion and Brockport. In addition, many city residents are finding terrific career opportunities in our stores every day.
Perhaps more than ever before, Wal-Mart is delivering on our core mission to save people money so they can live better. And we are doing it at a time when people here Buffalo and all across the U.S. need us most. Shoppers are depending on Wal-Mart to deliver the best price so they can stick to their plans, no matter what the economy throws at us. We won't let them down.
It's only a matter of time before Buffalo cuts a ribbon for one of these mega-stores. At that point the retail climate will change... for the better or for the worse... it all depends on whom you talk to and what project they are talking about.