Wal-Mart Supercenter is opening in Franklin, but some residents say they are worried
Wal-Mart Supercenter is opening in Franklin, but some residents say they are worried
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By Christopher Magan
Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2007
FRANKLIN — Chester Shockley Jr. is one of many residents happy the world's largest retailer is set to open a Supercenter Wednesday on Second Street.
Shockley, a digital photo buff, just returned home from a Caribbean cruise and plans to develop nearly 700 pictures at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter's photo lab.
"I'm glad to have it close," he said. "It will be very convenient. Now I don't have to wait so long to get my pictures developed."
A photo lab isn't the only thing the 204,000-square foot store near Interstate 75 will have. The store's 370 employees, making an average wage of $9.61 an hour, will help the big box retailer sell everything from eyeglasses to eggplants. Shoppers can even get their hair cut, do their banking and get the oil in their car changed.
"If we don't have it, chances are you ... don't really need it," Smith said.
But the one-stop shopping model and the company's "Always low prices" have some worried about the future of Franklin's long-standing retailers and small businesses.
"It will definitely hurt small businesses," said William Elza, who lives near the new store. "They can sell things cheaper."
Just down the street from the Supercenter at the Laynecrest Plaza Smoke Shop, employee Barb Erickson isn't sure how Wal-Mart will impact other businesses.
"I hope it doesn't hurt Marsh too bad," she said. "We want the whole plaza to do well. We draw people from each other."
A manager from Marsh supermarket in the plaza declined to comment about the store's opening.
City leaders admit the chain store has a reputation for hurting small businesses. But they hope the arrival of the company will help the city economically by attracting more people to town.
Smith says similar stores serve an average of 35,000 shoppers a week.
Cherie Cooper-Darragh, director of the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, said the store will force small businesses to do things differently.
"I've talked to small retailers," she said. "In a lot of instances people think they have developed a rapport and a niche with their customers and are doing well. When a big retailer comes to town the small chains do have to think differently."
Mayor Todd Hall says the big box store is a good fit for Franklin.
"Once it opens we'll hopefully see other businesses look our way," Hall said. He noted since the Arkansas-based company announced plans to build in the city McDonald's and Walgreen's both opened stores nearby.
"In our circumstances it will help us become a destination," Hall said.
But the traffic that comes along with being a shopping "destination" worries some residents.
Friday contractors will still working to finish installing a turn lane and traffic light that must be completed before the store can open.
Other improvements are underway or planned for Second Street to handle increased traffic.
"It's going to be in a state of flux up there for the next four years," said Don Woods, the city's chief building official.
That's a concern to Rosalie Taylor.
"I think it's going to be bad," she said of possible traffic congestion. "It's always been bad up there."
Despite the perceived draw backs, Smith insists he's company's new store is a positive for the community.
"We're bringing customers to Franklin," he said. "Those people are going to come to Franklin to eat at restaurants and shop at stores. When it comes to businesses everyone has their niche."
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2845 or cmagan@coxohio.com.
Copyright ©2007 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio, USA. All rights reserved.
Share your thoughts on this
By Christopher Magan
Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2007
FRANKLIN — Chester Shockley Jr. is one of many residents happy the world's largest retailer is set to open a Supercenter Wednesday on Second Street.
Shockley, a digital photo buff, just returned home from a Caribbean cruise and plans to develop nearly 700 pictures at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter's photo lab.
"I'm glad to have it close," he said. "It will be very convenient. Now I don't have to wait so long to get my pictures developed."
A photo lab isn't the only thing the 204,000-square foot store near Interstate 75 will have. The store's 370 employees, making an average wage of $9.61 an hour, will help the big box retailer sell everything from eyeglasses to eggplants. Shoppers can even get their hair cut, do their banking and get the oil in their car changed.
"If we don't have it, chances are you ... don't really need it," Smith said.
But the one-stop shopping model and the company's "Always low prices" have some worried about the future of Franklin's long-standing retailers and small businesses.
"It will definitely hurt small businesses," said William Elza, who lives near the new store. "They can sell things cheaper."
Just down the street from the Supercenter at the Laynecrest Plaza Smoke Shop, employee Barb Erickson isn't sure how Wal-Mart will impact other businesses.
"I hope it doesn't hurt Marsh too bad," she said. "We want the whole plaza to do well. We draw people from each other."
A manager from Marsh supermarket in the plaza declined to comment about the store's opening.
City leaders admit the chain store has a reputation for hurting small businesses. But they hope the arrival of the company will help the city economically by attracting more people to town.
Smith says similar stores serve an average of 35,000 shoppers a week.
Cherie Cooper-Darragh, director of the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, said the store will force small businesses to do things differently.
"I've talked to small retailers," she said. "In a lot of instances people think they have developed a rapport and a niche with their customers and are doing well. When a big retailer comes to town the small chains do have to think differently."
Mayor Todd Hall says the big box store is a good fit for Franklin.
"Once it opens we'll hopefully see other businesses look our way," Hall said. He noted since the Arkansas-based company announced plans to build in the city McDonald's and Walgreen's both opened stores nearby.
"In our circumstances it will help us become a destination," Hall said.
But the traffic that comes along with being a shopping "destination" worries some residents.
Friday contractors will still working to finish installing a turn lane and traffic light that must be completed before the store can open.
Other improvements are underway or planned for Second Street to handle increased traffic.
"It's going to be in a state of flux up there for the next four years," said Don Woods, the city's chief building official.
That's a concern to Rosalie Taylor.
"I think it's going to be bad," she said of possible traffic congestion. "It's always been bad up there."
Despite the perceived draw backs, Smith insists he's company's new store is a positive for the community.
"We're bringing customers to Franklin," he said. "Those people are going to come to Franklin to eat at restaurants and shop at stores. When it comes to businesses everyone has their niche."
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2845 or cmagan@coxohio.com.
Copyright ©2007 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio, USA. All rights reserved.
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