Walmart

[SoonerDave]

Any notion that the growth around the WalMart could, at least in part, be slowing down the enthusiasm for developing along the new Portland route? That project/development seems to have completely stalled, and the street has apparently become essentially a big drag strip.

[ChrisHayes]

When was development supposedly going to start along Portland? I would classify the desired development along Portland to be on a different level than around the Walmart.

[Pete]

More on the pick-up facility at Council and NW Expressway.

It's actually an automated kiosk, where you buy on-line, employees pick all the products and take them out to the kiosk, then the customer can pick it up 24/7 through an automated interface on the kiosk.

Don't really see the advantage to traditional pickup for the customer but will be interested to see what people have to say about it, as it's part of a test for the new approach.

http://newsok.com/walmart-introduces...rticle/5551667

[Zuplar]

Walmart continues to push their new strategy, which has really been working out for them. I know there is a lot of haters on here, but it's pretty interesting to see how a traditional big box has continued to be relevant and experience growth in this environment.

[Pete]

They do a great job with technology and always seem to be trying new things, I give them credit for all that.

[riflesforwatie]

There was a sign on the door at the 23rd and Penn store that their hours are being scaled back as of May 31 (or June 1, can't remember). I think it said the store now closes at 11 pm.

[Pete]

I asked a young mom friend about her experience using the new kiosk for pickup...

She said she liked it was 24 hours and you didn't have to reserve a time slot, like with the other traditional pickup locations.

Asked about not having the stuff brought to the car and she said there was someone to help her but no sure if that will be permanent or for all hours. I'm thinking they want to reduce employees as much as possible and keep costs low.

I know for mom's with infants, they love not having to get out of their car with the old system.

Will be interesting to see if this gets a further roll-out. They try lots of things that they decide against (like the pay-by-phone thing they now do at Sam's but not their other stores).

[mugofbeer]

There have been a lot of corporate contributions to the east Texas flooding, but the Houston mayor just mentioned Wal Mart has committed $20 million to the effort. Thats pretty big time

[Pete]

The Neighborhood Market at 23rd & N. Penn is getting a significant remodel.

$660K building permit filed today, which does not include fixtures and equipment.

[tfvc.org]

And at Crest (in Edmond) - stockers with their huge pallets in every 2-3 aisles, during the day, way too much hassle and that's one of the reasons I hated going there (Uptown doesn't stock much during the day, which is one of the reasons we shop there).

I have never had any issues with the Crests at S104th and Norman. The stockers have always been nice and friendly and moved out of my way/helped me. I am not sure about the other crests but the stockers take Monday into Tuesdays off so if you want a pretty hassle free experience that is the day to go.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I have never had any issues with the Crests at S104th and Norman. The stockers have always been nice and friendly and moved out of my way/helped me. I am not sure about the other crests but the stockers take Monday into Tuesdays off so if you want a pretty hassle free experience that is the day to go.

Ya no issue in Norman. I usually go Saturday or Sunday. The only issue is the high amount of people in motorized carts trying to turn around in aisles. Dodging them is an art.

[TheTravellers]

We live near 36th/May now, so we don't do Crest (there's one on 23rd/Meridian, but it's a nightmare, did it once) anymore. We do Uptown on Britton/May for general shopping, Sprouts on 63rd/May for produce/deli meat, and Eley's on 30th/May to fill in if we're in desperate need. May try Winco on 39th after they've been open for 6 months to let the newness wear off, and maybe the new Aldi in Mayfair, but we're not really fans of Aldi. And we don't give money to Walmart unless there is absolutely no other option available at all, ever (we've gone to a WM or WMNM about 4 times since we moved back in 2009, and pretty much not once in the decade or so before that).

[Pete]

^

I also don't like Walmart but I shop at the Sam's at 39th & May more than anywhere else.

So incredible convenient and easy to get in and out of that place.

[jn1780]

Is the NW Expressway online pickup completely automated? Or is it a kiosk that sends a message to an employee in the back that places items on a conveyor belt? Kind of like the old Service Merchandise days.

[Pete]

New design for NM at 23rd & Penn:

[billokc]

Walmart's reason for scaling back their hours began at the Stupercenter (yes, Stupercenter) at 240/Santa Fe in August 2015. Late at night there were customers being attacked/robbed in the parking lot. The store also experienced a LOT of shoplifting. OCPD or OK County Sheriff Dept started stationing themselves at that store. All it did was slow down the crime, but didn't stop it completely. So Walmart higher-ups decided to close at midnight, open at 6am. The plan was to watch the results at that store, and if things worked out, implement the hours of operation at other locations.

[d-usa]

If I remember right, this would be right around the time where there were multiple stories about Walmart’s loss-prevention strategy. Which consisted of “don’t have one, just let the local police handle it and subsidize our cost of doing business”. Walmart was the largest location for 911 calls by a wide margin, even compared to other stores.

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-walmart-crime/

[SoonerDave]

Was noticing that development around this Walmart has slowed. The Whataburger has never materialized and only the BWW is underway. No bldg permits on tap for the area. Anyone know what might be holding things up?

[Zuplar]

I feel like something else was going in by the CU, or at least I saw some dirt work. I felt like I had heard a Chickfila was going in, but that might have completely been a rumor.

[SoonerDave]

I feel like something else was going in by the CU, or at least I saw some dirt work. I felt like I had heard a Chickfila was going in, but that might have completely been a rumor.

I think that's a Chicken Express. Its about the only other thing in this area that's materialized from the earliest plans once the WM was announced.

[Zuplar]

I think that's a Chicken Express. Its about the only other thing in this area that's materialized from the earliest plans once the WM was announced.

Ah that's a bummer. I'm sure at some point there will be more development, just seems to be slow going.

[Pete]

They are raising their minimum wage to $11 / per hour and expanding employee benefits.

At the same time, they closed a bunch of Sam's Clubs -- none in OK:

http://www.businessinsider.com/walma...-stores-2018-1

[Pete]

The new Buffalo Wild Wings is hiring, so they must be very close to opening.

[SoonerDave]

The new Buffalo Wild Wings is hiring, so they must be very close to opening.

They've had their "Now Hiring" banner up for a week or more - really closer to two. They'll be winging it up anytime. Wooohoo!

Sure hoping something else along that area will start popping soon. Can't help but think it's a little behind the curve - the info on the Whataburger was posted a long time ago but there's not a whiff of activity in that direction since...

[SOONER8693]

They've had their "Now Hiring" banner up for a week or more - really closer to two. They'll be winging it up anytime. Wooohoo!

Sure hoping something else along that area will start popping soon. Can't help but think it's a little behind the curve - the info on the Whataburger was posted a long time ago but there's not a whiff of activity in that direction since...

My youngest daughters boyfriend applied for a part time job there while in school. When he interviewed they told him a new Lowe's would be starting near there soon.