Wal-Mart cancels plans for two more DC locations

On the 15th of January, the Washington Post announced that Wal-Mart is canceling plans to build a "super-center" in SE at the proposed Skyland eminent domain project and in NE at Capitol Gateway. Wal-Mart was quoted as saying “Our experience over the last three years operating our current stores in DC has given us a fuller view on building and operating stores in the District,” perhaps meaning a failure to "capture 100% of the retail market" around each store.

With Mayor Gray no longer in office, at least Wal-Mart no longer has to fear repercussions from backing out of that eminent-domain based Skyland project. Mayor Gray had demanded a Wal-Mart to anchor that project as a price of letting Wal-Mart open on Ga Ave. For those hose who would have been displaced, on the other hand, this is a win-win situation.

At the same time, Wal-Mart is closing all of it's smaller "Express" stores. Unfortunately this does not include the Ga Ave store, the H st store, or the NY Ave location. The Wal-Mart on Ga Ave has at least not been sucessful in bringing about the demolition of area small businesses, though parking restrictions cut sales by up to 70% at those directly across from the Wal-Mart. The Safeway is still open, and under Wal-Mart's business model that defines any Wal-Mart that does not "capture 100% of the retail" in an area as a failure the Ga Ave location might be considered a failing store. That in turn means that those who refuse to shop at the Ga Ave Wal-Mart may have played a role in keeping two more Wal-Mart's out of DC. So far Wal-Mart has not suceeded in doing to DC what they did to say, Fayettsville, North Carolina.