Wal-Mart tries again in NYC

Wal-Mart is at it again.




The mega retail giant is setting its aim on the Gateway II shopping development in Jamaica Bay. This comes after a failed attempt at entry into the New York City area earlier last year. During that iteration of Wal-Mart’s attempts at buying into the New York market, then CEO H. Lee Scott said that it was “…not worth the effort’.

The unique nature of the New York City retail market is antithetical to that of the Wal-Mart blitzkrieg approach, wherein they set up shop next to smaller retailers in the hopes of driving business under. New York City is made up of mom and pop operations, with strong advocates for their continual success. This is the crux of the issue when it comes to building a Wal-Mart anywhere near the City. People don’t want the behemoth gobbling up businesses and taking away a part of what makes New York unique. Many also detest the employment practices of Wal-Mart, claiming that employees are underpaid and exploited.

Protests are planned in the coming days, supported by labor unions and citizens alike. The Gateway II shopping plaza already has two big box realtors, Target and BJs. There is fear that the addition of a Wal-Mart would undermine future development. Wal-Mart is keeping quiet on the issue, opting instead to fly under the radar to avoid the same scrutiny from the public it encountered in the past.