WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. July 20, 2006 UPDATED JULY 22, 2006, 11:20 P.M. E.D.T.: A reader relates his adventures in the new land of Wal-Mart which opened Wednesday morning in White Plains:
Today I had the displeasure of walking into the new Wal-Mart on Main St. Allow me to be the first to thank this chain for ruining a once lovely downtown White Plains (as it has many other nice towns across America.)
Actually, I thought I should add something to my report on the Wal-Mart shopping experience.
A couple of pluses:
1. Wal-Mart validates parking if you park at the adjoining "Sears" lot.
2. A large new Dunkin' Donuts that's right on Main Street (that's what is on the
other side of those nice curvy block-glass walls).
3. Very good selection of camping, hunting, and other outdoor sports items.
Enthusiasts of paintball and Airsoft will find a good amount of "guns" and "ammo"
there, and those who own firearms will find scopes, cases and ammunition
there, as well.
(More)
Up to now, Wal-Mart promised White Plains, via the press, that its store will have "an upscale appearance" and "groceries with a small produce section." Area residents gave it the benefit of the doubt because the neighborhood desperately needed a supermarket closer than the inconvenient access of Stop & Shop.
Well, maybe some readers of this site can post their Banana & Onion recipes, because that's the extent of the "produce section" we were promised. Bananas. And onion. They were on such a small standalone display it was ceremonial at best.
I guess anything to be able to say 'produce section' to the press, right?
The rest of the "grocery" section, tucked away in the Wal-Mart basement, is identical to Target's... a freezer and shelves of boxed junk.
And anyone who believed Wal-Mart could make an 'upscale' appearance in its store deserved to be duped. The "wood floors" they promised lie hidden under a basketball court-sized section of clothes racks. The rest of the store is the usual Wal-Mart ugly.
Unfortunately, for years (or however long people continue to patronize this trashy discounter) we're stuck with this reminder of how developers and retailers are free to promise anything and deliver little...using White Plains real estate like a truck-stop floozie.
If the city leadership thought that a Wal-Mart here was a great idea because we might save an extra 3 cents on a pack of AA batteries vs, Target, I'd say their power should very soon run out.
Until then, I imagine it's up to the residents to make sure that retailers like Wal-Mart keep their promises to us or have very uncomfortable stays here.
They'd also better realize that what is "upscale" to Bentonville, Arkansas is not upscale to White Plains, New York.
