Wake up, smell the coffee.  Y’all aren’t gonna stop the WalMart freight train.

Accept it and make the best of it.

I would like to know what small business in Powhatan is in danger from a Walmart.  Most small “local businesses” that people are talking about have already gone out of business.  A jeweler?  Well.. I wouldn’t say a walmart would compete with that.  How about an appliance store? again.. walmart wouldn’t be a competitor.  Restaurants? nope.. again not a competitor.. Lumber mill?  no.. Walmart doesn’t cary lumber.  Even the local pharmacy seems more like a halmark store with crafty dust collector stuff that walmart doesn’t really cary.. so who is really going to be hurt?  I just am trying to figure out what businesses will be hurt.  Maybe the tire shops?  But certainly not the full service garages.. or the heating and air..or the carpet cleaning business..or the car dealers.

People say we need “quality small locally owned” business.. Like what? What kind of business is acceptable?

And for those who would say I don’t want it in my backyard.. I wish they would build it in Cumberland.. right accross from the new DUMP. A lot of the reason why you have opposition to Walmarts is because the Unions are well funded and are against this non-union shop.

No.. the wages aren’t great.. but then again.. if you thought you could support a family soley on a 40 hour a week min wage job.. you really didn’t plan your life too well.  Nothing against people who work there.. they are great supplemental income jobs for a family.. or for retirees w/ssn or pensions..or for kids to do while they go to school.. probably not the “one” job you will have to support a family of four though.

We all wanted Powhatan to stop growing the day AFTER we moved here!!!!!

I guess we don’t want a WaWa to come to Powhatan…...we can just complain about those long lines at sheets. I remember the little stores before Food Lion…....did anyone really buy all their food from them…...or just when they needed an item and it was cheaper to pay the higher price compared to driving into town. The lines in Food lion are getting longer now too. can you see those two little store now if Food Lion did not come to Powhatan. The lines would run out into the parking lots and we would be hearing we need another store in Powhatan!

Amazing how many of you shop at Wal-Mart. But I see it’s as long as it’s NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
In this economy I see more and more of the so called special people shopping at Wallie World. They just do it late at night so there club members don’t see them. I wonder if the’re the same people with the big buck cars that you see at the Good Will store?

Business for Powhatan is good. Everyone can agree on that. People against Walmart are not against business or growth, they are for smart, long-term growth that includes local small business.

But why is Powhatan trying to bring a business that pays low wage jobs, and no health insurance. Can you raise a family as a cashier at Walmart?

Walmart has been the subject of documentary films chronicling their unfair labor practices and destruction of small business.  Is it too much to ask Powhatan to bring business that don’t have entire documentary films made about them?

Exactly how does your family suffer now from there not being a Walmart in Powhatan?  How will your life be made better by not driving the extra 8.9 miles to the Midlothian Walmart or 5.3 miles to Target?  Is that convenience worth sacrificing the small businesses that will go under?

Do you remember Flat Rock Supermarket? It lasted about 6 months or so after the first Food Lion opened.

If you really don’t want to drive 5 miles to the nearest big box store, maybe you should just shop online.

I hear the “more jobs” concern and want to make one thing clear… for every employee of Walmart or any big box store it will lead to the closing of local business and in turn cause many to loose there job, which some have been with the little guys for 20 years +. Do you think they should have to just start over at age 50 or 60? What about the family that has devoted there life to the small local business for 20 or 30 + years? So I guess it’s okay to shut down there lifes work for 20 minutes less on the road or what ever your reason? What about the up and coming small business, should they just give up and quit? If Powhatan puts Walmart here they are throwing Powhatan down the drain. 
As 23 year resident and a worker in Powhatan I hope that Walmart stays in Midlothian or West Broad or since 360 needed two they can just stay there. I would hate to see the greed of of some destroy so many peoples hard life long dreams and there work.

Mr. Gutman ~ Thank you for providing crucial facts that should be considered by everyone! One comment suggested that statistics can be manipulated to favor one side. Yes that is true just ask our county administrator and board of supervisors they do it all the time.

I want everyone to look at all of the double-talk by our so-called county leaders. Cios is quoted as saying that she asked Walmart representatives to disclose their identity and in the next sentence she was given the go ahead to do so but still kept this a secret to the very people that pay her salary. Walton is quoted as wanting to protect the citizens that elected him but he still kept this project a secret, and Cosby well, he still just sits on his throne and mutters incoherently about absolutely nothing. It seems to me that the county wanted to hide this to avoid facing the citizens and allowing us our rights to speak against it. I’m sure they all just wish that it would just go away because it takes away from their play time at the administration building.

I have seen a copy of the information that was provided to the No Walmart in Powhatan group and what a sad display of intellectual stupidity. The lies and double-talk prevailed. If you really want to see just how effective and organized this administrator is then you need to look at this document. The grammatical and formating skills are similar to those of a second grade student. It’s interesting to note that Cosby said they would follow the law but failed to do so when completing the information request. It was received way past the time allowed by law to complete such requests.

So can we really trust our local officials when they can’t even get the information request right?  When they talk in circles? When they prefer a hidden agenda instead of a transparent one? These people are making decisions that affects our lives; can we afford to allow them to do so? I DO NOT want a Walmart but feel that it is inevitable especially with the leadership we have. They obviously don’t have the “stuff” to stand up for what’s right for Powhatan!

I would love another grocery store option besides Food Lion. Cheaper too. What about when u need childrens tylenol at 1am we could go to Walmart. Most local businesses do poorly out here and walmart will not affect them b/c they are restaurants or gas stations. very excited.

Mr Gutmann, anyone can pull statistics or a study to favor their side.  It’s proven. 

Give me Wal-Mart in Powhatan.  A ten dollar per hour job is better than no job.

I can’t wait!  Save gas and spend my money in Powhatan for a change.