5th Wal-Mart Could Come To Montgomery
An Alabama News Network exclusive — another Wal-Mart could be coming to Montgomery. There’s already four Wal-Mart stores in town and some say a fifth may cause more harm than good to surrounding businesses and neighborhoods. A new Wal-Mart could become Barbara Olm’s new neighbor. She lives in the Rosemont Heights neighborhood off Federal Drive. Her backyard would face the store, which could replace the Bonnie Crest Country Club. “So anything that happens over there is directly going to affect us,” Said Olm. Montgomery City councilman Jon Dow says nothing is set in stone about the Wal-Mart coming. Cypress Development, an Atlanta shopping center group, wants to put the store where the Bonnie Crest Country Club used to be. Dow says right now, it’s all talk — but it’s enough talk to for neighbors to start a petition. “The developers are trying to partner to see what we can bring in to the area that would really enhance the quality of life, and maybe a Wal-Mart. We do know the Winn Dixie right around the corner is closing,” Said Dow. The Winn Dixie is scheduled to close at the end of the year and some people say that’s where the Wal-Mart should go. “We’re going to end up with a dead shopping center there and then it’s going to take away business from our little shopping center here in Eastbrook,” Said Olm who wonder why the Winn-Dixie location hasn’t been considered. “We want to see our small businesses succeed.” There are four other stores in town. The closest one is on Ann Street, two miles away. Jean Wright co-owns Montgomery’s State Farmer’s Market down the road from the possible Wal-Mart location and she questions why another store is even necessary. “I think it’s just too close. You know, I’m not really worried business-wise because you’ve got so many people who would prefer the farmer’s market as opposed to Wal-Mart,” Said Wright. Councilman Dow says if a Wal-Mart comes to replace the Bonnie Crest Country Club, it will be a smaller one — what the company calls a “Wal-Mart Marketplace.” Alabama News Network also reached out to several other people in the area and we were unable to find anyone who was for placing a Wal-Mart at the Federal Drive location. The issue is scheduled to come up in the next city council meeting on Tuesday December 2, 5 pm in city hall. The meeting is open to the public.
