As if having four wasn’t enough (two of which are SuperTargets), according to the Apple Valley City Council, some people believe that by adding a fifth grocery store we will have some real competition during these hard times!
Now, I’m all for competition if that actually existed. It’s not like we’d see any real change in prices if Wal-Mart was permitted to make their ugly ass store even larger. Nope, what this would end up being is another SuperTarget where it’s almost impossible to get exactly what you’re looking to use that week. I more-or-less don’t shop at Target for groceries not just because I hate their rabbitesque reproduction but because their selection fucking sucks. Let me be clear, Cub also sucks compared to the rest of the country’s grocery stores (why can’t Wegman’s expand outside of the East Coast?) but at least I have a bit of choice outside of Archer Farms, Market Pantry and Sutton & Dodge as well as a small selection of name brands. I usually can’t even find everything I want from Cub and have to stretch over to Rainbow to finish my shopping — bleh. What will Wal-Mart bring to this mix? More off-brand items that are ready to expire while exploiting the working class? Is it really worth it to save 1 cent on your bread when you know that it’s about to go moldy and/or stale?
Instead of worrying about “competition” in the less than one mile radius that already shows three large grocery stores, let’s worry about some smart shopping. You wouldn’t believe the number of people that think I’m crazy for preparing my shopping lists in advance. I have received hate e-mail over this saying that I’m a fucking idiot for wasting my time to “save a few cents” on my bill. Uhh, I don’t call 30% to 40+% on a $250 to $300 (before savings) “a few cents,” but hey, if you want to rag on me for saving money you better not be one of those fucking idiots that thinks that by allowing Wal-Mart to expand and annoy its neighbors with trucking logistics you will somehow best the savings you could get already if you just spent the 20 minutes twice a month.
Face it people, Apple Valley doesn’t need another grocery store within town limits. There are already three within less than a third of a mile not to mention the *other* SuperTarget two miles away, the Byerly’s 2.6 miles away and the numerous Cubs and other SuperTargets within 5 miles, will adding yet another a mere .37 miles (as the crow flies) away really make that much of a difference for your pocketbook?
I can guarantee that any savings you might see aren’t worth the added aggravation, frustration, and green space elimination that will occur as a result of this unnecessary and unneeded expansion. Your thoughts?
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October 2nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I don’t see what your problem is with more options. You make your choice, and other people make their choices. Some people dig the Walmart shopping “experience” while I loathe it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t respect their choice (okay, respect may be strong, maybe accept?).
As far as grocery lists and coupons go–it sounds like you are making a smart choice. I don’t shop much from the middle aisles, so coupons are almost always a waste (save a few items at Cub–like first 1lb of grapes free kind of thing)…
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
People send you hatemail because you shaved $70 off $200 with just a little extra effort?! And this somehow pisses them off? This somehow AFFECTS THEM? The stupidity in the world will never cease to stump me.
Oh, and just say no to Walmart!
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Kirk, because Wal-Mart isn’t offering “choice” it’s offering a loss of green space, the addition of more noise to its neighbors, worse wages and working condition to its employees and terrible product. If you want to call it anything, call it “greed”. I’m fine with people shopping there if they understand that it’s not adding anything positive to the community.
Ang, I get hate e-mail for a lot of things that you wouldn’t believe. People have nothing better to do than read my rants and then rant themselves I guess ;-)
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I agree that another grocery store in that area is a little much and I doubt I’ll go there. I live near the new SuperTarget and the Rosemount Cub so no need to go to the Wal Mart. I just see it as adding more traffic to that area and would not want to be a resident anywhere near there just for that and the added noise factors. Ick.
Why would anyone criticize you for saving money and planning ahead? SO bizzarre.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Thoughts… thanks for asking.
Actually I have to respectfully disagree with you that the Wal-Mart supermarket will in fact change the prices of many things in your grocery aisles, they will come out with screaming low prices. Target will match them, as well Rainbow.. I’m not sure what CUB does.
I would suggest that with in a year or two of they’re Grocery Grand Opening… Rainbow would go away. Too bad as I shop there.
Wal-Mart serves a purpose, the folks that shop there in many cases, simply can’t afford the alternatives. Shopping local and organic and meat counters and all that sort of thing are great, but come a cost.. I shop of Valley Natural Foods for example because I like the idea of local sustainable products, and they’re tasty… but I also recognize that I’m paying, in many cases, a pretty outrageous price for what I’m getting..
Case in point- Seedless cucs at Valley, $2.99 at Wal-Mart $1.19. The typical Wal_mart Shopper in Minnesota makes about $45.000 in annual HOUSEHOLD income. You have to be creative to stretch that amount for a family of 5 to pay bills and buy food.
That doesn’t mean I support it though. I believe that Wal-Mart takes a bigger toll on the local economy than they contribute. For example, health care costs, since they don’t offer heath care to anyone except their full time employees, and since they try not to employ anyone full time, Wal-Mart will routinely help their employees get on the county dole, raising the costs for the rest of us. My estimate is Dakota County will spend $350.0 per year providing health care to Wal-Mart employees who are on the state health roll.
In addition, Wal-Mart employees often find themselves on Food Stamps. On average, local taxpayers subsidize Wal-Mart to the tune of $2100 a head. In Apple Valley store, that would work out to about $840,000 per year.. and that’s one (1) store.
Their low wages drive down the market, which affects local housing, where are all these folks making $7.80 an hour going to live in Apple Valley? Wal-Mart stores in a community drive UP that communities poverty rates.
Wal-Mart stores drive up local costs with infrastructure needs, police protection.. a study I saw from Ohio showed that Wal-Mart, (and to be fair big box in general) retailers net impact on tax revenues is -44cents per sq foot.
Personally, these costs and the drain on the economy as well as the negative impact to the community overall far out weigh my being able to by a head of lettuce for below the cost to produce it and ship it here.
I tell you, a topic in these every pages has been unions… and their lack of relevance in your lives.. if you were working for wage at Wal-Mart I’d be in a union so fast it.. I’d also be out of work. If you really want to get rid of Wal-Mart.. organize them. When ever a store has started to go “union” Wal-Mart closes the store before they’d let that happen.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
The same thing seems to be happening in Eagan, there is already a Cub on Cliff Rd and Rainbow/Byerlys off Yankee Doodle. They are building another Cub near Diffley and Lexington and a Kowalski’s near Diffley and 35E. At least Kowalski’s may offer something that the Cubs do not.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Bill, yeah and I’ve written posts about Eagan’s grocery woes as well especially when those directly adjacent don’t want it but everyone else thinks it’s swell because it’s not right next to their home.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Kowalski’s tried to offer AV/Lakeville “something that Cubs do not” and that lasted less than a year I believe. The property they built is still sitting vacant. Personally I’d love to see a Whole Foods go in there but I doubt that would happen. I’d settle for a Chili’s. ;)
October 6th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
A couple of points–
Greenspace in the middle of a built in area is usually not worthwhile for many people, let alone nature. The Wal-mart will likely just eat into its own parking lot with little to no resulting loss of greenspace.
I really dig the fact that the Cub is moving in next to my house in Eagan. It is less than a 5 minute bike ride and a 3 minute drive. The “green space” that this was put on has been zoned retail for at least the 9 years I’ve lived here, so the people who bought or built next door and are now complaining have no right to complain. They shouldn’t have build/bought there. In addition, it takes me nearly 15 minutes to get to a grocery store now (each way) due to lights. Putting the Cub right by my house will save me time & money–something I hold dear to my heart.
Lastly, Cub is plenty good if you purchase from the outside the grocery store like I do. Their produce is great (and very often local), the grains are cheap, and their meat is okay (I still like Kowalski’s or Byerly’s for those). In addition, the multi-cultural aspect of the Cub off of Cliff is pretty amazing. The amount of hispanic/russian/asian items they have is pretty darn good.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Kirk, please take a look at the aerial map of Wal-Mart here and pay attention to the fact that the plans call for the loading dock in the NW corner of the building. This leads me to believe that they plan to take up some of the green space that borders Wal-Mart on the western side of the building rather than the parking lot in the front of the building.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Exactly–that kind of greenspace is just dead grass and grasshoppers. Now a savvy council would give them the permit if and only if they took a portion of that land and did something nice with it–like a community garden or something…
October 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Now I see what you mean, thanks for clearing it up.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
According to this article over at the Star Tribune, Apple Valley’s City Council is continuing to kowtow to the Big Box Stores and has tabled a discussion about this topic instead of outright denying Wal-Mart their approval.
One resident interviewed summed it up perfectly:
October 16th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Still waiting.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Nothing outlasts Energizer.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Congratulations Apple Valley City Council, you truly are a bunch of fucking douchebags for approving the fourth god damn grocery store in a third of a mile.
Your stupidity never fucking ceases to amaze me.