"Wal-Mart" is coming to Town". These words conjure up different thoughts and emotions for people of a local community. It does not matter if that community is a small town in Missouri or a suburb of Chicago. What effect does a Wal-Mart store have on existing businesses? This is a highly debated and argued question. Which side of the fence you are on will probably influence your opinion.
             When a Wal-Mart store moves into a town, many people's lives are affected. Some positively; others negatively. Some people are not impacted at all, while others may have little interest. For still others their lives could be dramatically affected.
             Like any new business in a community, a Wal-Mart store could have a great deal of impact on the local economy. Property owners around the site may have the benefit of a new store coming to their area and embrace the enterprise. Others may lose their property, have limited access to their property or be negatively impacted by the "right's of way" required for the property. Developers, contractors, builders and bankers will reap the short-term rewards from the construction of the new project. Gas stations and fast food restaurants could prosper or falter depending on the location and accessibility provided by the developers. Additional businesses could be developed because of the new store, i.e., more gas stations and restaurants. The Wal-Mart store may be an "anchor" tenant in a shopping center. The presence of a major retailer could provide stability for that shopping center and entice other stores to relocate there.
             Most people expect a Wal-Mart store to provide them with more convenience and lower prices than they would get if they had to shop at several smaller stores. Wal-Mart and their "Super Stores" provide services in addition to retail merchandise, i.e., lawn & garden, optometry, pharmacy, fast food, and banking. Having all of these businesses under one-roof giv...