Lakeview residents have overwhelmingly voiced opposition to Walmart moving in, and took their message to the streets with a protest outside a former Petsmart store that Walmart wants to use.
An animated Mayor Richard Daley says politics was behind the long-standing opposition to having Walmart stores in Chicago. Says Daley: "This was the right thing to do six years ago. It's the right thing to do today."
At the front of the store, shoppers will find a pharmacy and financial services desk where customers can pay their bills, cash checks or load cash onto their Walmart Visa debit cards.
Walmart is paying close attention to what customers think of this 10,000 square foot test location. The world’s largest retailer sees it as a “vehicle for entry into the 15 largest metro markets,” said Anthony Hucker, Walmart’s vice president for strategy and business development.
“We’re listening to what customers want and changing accordingly. We have to be very precise because every square foot is precious,” said Hucker.
Walmart hired between 20 and 40 people for the location, which came from an applicant pool of more than 650 area residents, a Walmart spokesperson told Crain's.
A Walmart supercenter is scheduled to open across the street from the Express store next spring.
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