Downtown Walmart?

[bdub02]

I've seen some talk about it on these boards. Is this actually happening? In my opinion, it would be a total reversal of the progress downtown, especially if it was a Supercenter. People also are not going to want to go/live downtown only to have the same choice in retail is they would have in the suburbs or rural areas.

[metro]

Total RUMOR

[trison]

Don't dismiss it as total rumor. It has some legs under it. It may not be in the core of downtown but I wouldn't be surprised to see something on the peripheral.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I believe Tulsa is getting one.

[betts]

Peripheral is semi-OK, as long as it is more attractive than usual. I don't shop at Walmart so I only care that it be reasonably out of sight.

[CuatrodeMayo]

How about this for a walmart?

(Atrium, not atruim)

[PUGalicious]

As much as I hate Wal-Mart, THAT would be cool. Maybe a Target instead.

[okclee]

I don't completely dismiss this as a rumor.

I look to see a Wal-Mart in the east end of bricktown, either Reno or Sheridan, near I-235.

[Rifleman2C]

How about this for a walmart?

(Atrium, not atruim)

That can't be real.


Spelling errors aside, it still can't possibly be factual. After all...


Where's the McDonald's in that Wal-Mart?

[dalelakin]

Actually if Walmart would just put some seperate checkouts for grocery only and general merchandise only I would have less contempt for shopping there. I do like the Atrium idea although I would want to see the exterior concept as well before passing full judgement.

[BaldDriller13]

I think the Atrium concept is different, but could work in the "new" downtown area. Living close to there, I know it is a pain to have to drive all the way to NW Expressway. By the way, I heard Wal-mart is changing their restaurant affiliation to Subway. Supposed to be a more family friendly, helping you watch your weight kind of thing.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

How about this for a walmart?

(Atrium, not atruim)
\

There's a Target kind of like that in Lakeside, CA (I've seen a few others, but can't recall where)...It's annoying as hell to move from floor to floor if you're shopping for more than groceries. There's a separate escalator just for your shopping cart.

[PapaJack]

This concept kind of reminds me of the IKEA I visited in Mass. this summer. The shoppers there really looked like Walmart shoppers here in Soonerland. Only the items for sale were different. The large item pickup and checkout system was straight from the failed Service Merchandise era. Maybe if "Walmart" was changed to "Vahlmorte" the urbanites would embrace the concept.http://www.okctalk.com/images/smilies/bright_idea.gif

[rugbybrado]

I think the Atrium concept is different, but could work in the "new" downtown area. Living close to there, I know it is a pain to have to drive all the way to NW Expressway. By the way, I heard Wal-mart is changing their restaurant affiliation to Subway. Supposed to be a more family friendly, helping you watch your weight kind of thing.

ive noticed that in the newer walmarts too - personally i think its kinda funny.

[Pete]

There is a multi-floor (3, I believe) Wal-Mart just a couple of blocks from where I work in the San Fernando Valley.

And very nearby, Target has a similar store.

[jbrown84]

Well the good news is that there's no way a Walmart fits in East Bricktown unless it IS a multi story, more compact one with a parking garage.

[okclee]

^^ Never underestimate the power of Wal-Mart fitting into a location. If the Steel Co. were razed north of sheridan , I think that Wal-Mart people could find a way to fit into that spot.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Well the good news is that there's no way a Walmart fits in East Bricktown unless it IS a multi story, more compact one with a parking garage.

Those little Homestyle Market ones would fit fine.

Not that I'm saying that they should...Urban people are too snobby to shop there.

[SpectralMourning]

I think the Atrium concept is different, but could work in the "new" downtown area. Living close to there, I know it is a pain to have to drive all the way to NW Expressway. By the way, I heard Wal-mart is changing their restaurant affiliation to Subway. Supposed to be a more family friendly, helping you watch your weight kind of thing.

The Walmart in Spencer has a Subway inside and a Subway that's been there before the construction anchored on the outside. I'm not sure exactly how that will pan out...

[BDP]

How does a Wal-Mart or any large supercenter fit into a pedestrian neighborhood model?

I realize that we're currently not building our "urban" district that way, but wouldn't the presence of a supercenter all but assure us that a real urban neighborhood would never emerge in Oklahoma City? Maybe I'm wrong, but, imo, such development strategy is more likely to make downtown like the square mile between Penn and May above 122nd, than resembling any urban neighborhood.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I assume you are referring to a supercenter in its current sprawled form?

[BDP]

Not really.

Supercenters depend on large purchases in bulk to offset their lower margins. In many cases these transactions require an automobile to haul the bounty away.

Urban neigborhoods are defined in part by pedestrian access and lifestyle. This usually results in more transactions of lower bulk. Smaller neighbood markets and specialty stores usually served these kinds of markets and that kind of buyer more effectively.

So, can they and, more importantly, would they coexist in downtown Oklahoma City or would a supercenter dominate and define the area's shopping infrastructure in such a way that real urban services would be slow to materialize or never show up at all?

[bdub02]

Not really.
So, can they and, more importantly, would they coexist in downtown Oklahoma City or would a supercenter dominate and define the area's shopping infrastructure in such a way that real urban services would be slow to materialize or never show up at all?

This is Wal-Mart we are talking about. They build Supercenters with the intent of dominating an area and knocking every other option out. A neighborhood market might work, but not a Supercenter. Neightborhood Markets are generally kept much nicer than Supercenters as far as I've seen. If Wal-Mart tries to put a Supercenter on Reno in downtown, there should be mass protest.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

This is Wal-Mart we are talking about. They build Supercenters with the intent of dominating an area and knocking every other option out. A neighborhood market might work, but not a Supercenter. Neightborhood Markets are generally kept much nicer than Supercenters as far as I've seen. If Wal-Mart tries to put a Supercenter on Reno in downtown, there should be mass protest.

That's what I was talking about. I actually like the Neighborhood Markets and if people could get past their knee-jerk "ZOMG!!! WALMART IS THE DEVIL INCARNATE!!!" attitudes, I think one would do well down there.

[okclee]

Two Words.......Bass Pro