Wal-Mart Buys Land in Atascadero

July 6, 2006 ATASCADERO -- It's official. Wal-Mart has purchased land in one Central Coast city with the intention of building a Wal-Mart Super Center there.

[Susan Stewart]

There is no worse idea than the idea of Wal-Mart. This store has no character, and will bring nothing with it to distinguish Atascadero from 1000 other towns across the country. It's ugly. But the most important part of this is what Wal-mart policies are doing to American manufacturing and jobs.
You take an American shoe manufacturer: Because of competition from Walmart and other big box stores, many shoe stores have already gone out of business. If a manufacturer wants to sell to Walmart, they insist on such low prices that American manufacturers (if they want to stay in business at all) are forced to let all their American workers go, and begin to manufacture in China with a much cheaper work force. Now all those American workers are out of work. It happens over and over again, until there are no mom and pop shops left here in America and the only place to shop is Walmart. Fine with Walmart as the thing they hate the most is competition.

[S HOWELL]

Wal-Mart is an economic disaster for local communities. Everywhere they pop up, local business go out of business. They don't truly contribute to any community. Their wages are low, the type of people they hire are, well Wal-Mart quality. Remember, you get what you pay for. You pay for cheap, you get cheap. They pay low wages, they get low quality employees,and the consumer gets low quality service.
Wal-Mart is quickly monopolizing the country, Atascadero, fight for your community, and do not allow Wal-Mart in and devaluize your community.

[Elma Tawalmares]

Wal-Mart will ruin your community; the property values in our town when dowm within five years... We got a pizza hut express, an olve garden and a Hometown Buffet...yipppeeeeeeee!!!!!!

[Namless]

A super Walmart store will rock

[OldTimer]

The only shopping in Atascadero, Ca., is K-Mart, and the Factory Outlet.
Where in the heck do you buy anything other than K-Mart, and the Outlet?

[Debbie B]

I would be very happy to see a Wal-Mart store in the Atascadero area.

[Ray]

Just what we need: Another place to fuel our addiction to cheap, mostly unneeded, imported crap. Viva American consumerism!!!

[slonative58]

No on Walmart for Atascadero! We already have big box stores thus driving out the locals. Paso Robles has a Walmart there, so go there and do your shopping, but I think Walmart SUCKS, slave wages, and low quality merchandise that you can buy from China!~

[Keith]

Debbie B wrote:

I would be very happy to see a Wal-Mart store in the Atascadero area.

Why???? You have one in Paso!!!

[CindyLouWho]

Susan Stewart wrote:

There is no worse idea than the idea of Wal-Mart. This store has no character, and will bring nothing with it to distinguish Atascadero from 1000 other towns across the country. It's ugly. But the most important part of this is what Wal-mart policies are doing to American manufacturing and jobs.
You take an American shoe manufacturer: Because of competition from Walmart and other big box stores, many shoe stores have already gone out of business. If a manufacturer wants to sell to Walmart, they insist on such low prices that American manufacturers (if they want to stay in business at all) are forced to let all their American workers go, and begin to manufacture in China with a much cheaper work force. Now all those American workers are out of work. It happens over and over again, until there are no mom and pop shops left here in America and the only place to shop is Walmart. Fine with Walmart as the thing they hate the most is competition.

O.K, It has been a year since you posted your thoughts. I am interested in knowing how many times you have shopped at Wal-Mart in Paso Robles over the last year, Especially at Christmas Time. or Target or K-Mart, purchasing at a chain store over making a purchase at any local Mom and Pop Shop?

[Mindful]

I happen to like WalMart. I personally know people employed by WalMart and they are fine citizens. My local store is clean, people are helpful, and I save money, which we know is almost impossible to do on the central coast.

[Aarron]

walmart is good for economy. walmart's ethics suck though. that's the issue. there are many America started companies that have been forced to Mexico or China. Check out this book' "The Bully of Bentonville..." I used to live in Bentonville, AR

[Howie]

Walmart is taking away all of our choices. They drive everyone elese out. Are we really this stupid? Walmart is reporting when we run out of money along with a detailed list of everything we do while we shop at their heavily survailenced building. They determine a lot of how we decorate our homes what we buy for christmas gifts,what we eat(brandwise),and even what jobs are available since so many local small businesses have to close. We are giving up our own freedom in many ways by shopping there. As I read earlier most of their "cheap" merchandise is made in china. Is this really what we want to do? Slowly and as they sneak along we are giving up everything so many Americans have and even now are dying for. This is what our children are learning. Walmart is laughing all the way to the bank and to the throne of power.

There should be a minium percentage of merchandise that is made in USA. If they can not meet that minimum howabout a charge of some kind? The proceeds to be contributed to social security for instance. If that doesn"t work then If at least 50 % doesn't come from US they have to be called an import store and again contribute to something like unemployment in order to business here. Otherwise scram!!!!!!!!!!

[rusty]

why do you think theres a big red star in the middle of the walmart name.Com munism is here to stay .The chinese are going to take us without a shot fired.just keep watch on that big screen t.v.and sitting in that china made lazyboy chair.

[john]

Let paso robles have the taxes from walmart,the city of atascadero has extra money. just think of all the weeds that will be killed,they have rights too.yes paso keeps the taxes atascadero keeps the weeds

[John]

yes with Walmart Down with Harold and Comar.
It's easy for a nurese practitioner at Atascadero State Hospital to say "Oh we Don't need the doscounts'. I don't see him volunteering to buy our kids food and clothing.

[Paco]

yeah, I think the sun's gotten into Tom's brain or something.

[Keith]

I love to hear people bitch and complain and then shop there anyway. Those are the same people who bitch about high gas prices and then gun the gas pedal to the floor to get to the next light!

If people weren't sheep and actually thought for themselves, we wouldn't be in this predicament...

[Jim]

Wal-mart will bring more illegal aliens to Atascadero.

[Lynn]

I think that a Walmart Super store is what this area needs. There are a lot of Seniors that cant afford the run away pricing of other stores. there are a lot of people becoming seniors and we need to watch our pennys. Retirement is expensive for people on social security.