Keeping Us Off Balance

The Town Meeting at the Court House in Eureka Springs Tuesday August 23 rd at 6PM has been cancelled.

Walmart has rescheduled its meeting with Planning to Tuesday September 13 th. Walmart said it needed to be better prepared for the Planning Commission and Eureka Spring's citizens. They must be getting their "quack -- quacks" in a row.

Frankly, I think Walmart's plan is to keep us off balance until they have closed the deal with Ron Bell. Last week, there was a rumor that Walmart was pulling out of its plans to build here. "They said they didn't want to come into a town where they weren't wanted". If you believe that, then I have some great, green pasture land in Texas. Pulling the wool over our eyes is not something you do to the Scots/Irish. We folks have had that done to us by the Brits for centuries. We can recognize a "pig in a poke" a mile away.

We need to be ever vigilant, because we know what happens when a town just lets a "big box store" roll over the population. And in case you haven't heard, there's news out of Gentry, AR. Walmart built an Express store in June of this year and two months later the only grocery store (Marvin's) is closing its doors. Are we surprised?

Another Walmart Express has opened in Prairie Grove plus an Express is planned for Gravette. The stores average about 15,000 square feet and carry fresh food and a mix of general merchandise. One of our aldermen asked me why I was so against a little convenience store. I told him that we already have three convenience stores in town. We don't need more. But, now I have even a better reason. What's so little about 15,000 square feet? My two story house is only 1100 square feet. Now, that's little!

It's now common knowledge; Walmart's plan to build their Express stores was developed as part of the company's overall strategy to expand in smaller communities. The company is also using other types of small-format stores in urban areas such as Chicago.

So, those of you folks who are "gun ho" to save a dime, I suggest you hop right in your buggies and get on over to Gentry to take advantage of Marvin's sales. Everything's 30% off and the holiday season will be soon upon us.