Crain's New York Business reports that Wal-Mart is shopping for sites in New York City, specifically on Manhattan's Upper West Side and Brooklyn. The move is part of the Arkansas retailer's effort to expand into urban markets; while it has stores in all 50 states, it does not have any stores in New York City.
Among the locations reportedly under consideration: a former Kmart in Brooklyn, a retail mall that will be part of the new Penn Station at the Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue and West 33rd Street, and a location at Pier 40 at West Houston Street.
"We are always looking to either go into new markets or to expand in existing markets," Wal-Mart community affairs manager Mia Masten told the NY Daily News yesterday. "We don't have any stores in Manhattan right now."
Among the locations reportedly under consideration: a former Kmart in Brooklyn, a retail mall that will be part of the new Penn Station at the Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue and West 33rd Street, and a location at Pier 40 at West Houston Street.
"We are always looking to either go into new markets or to expand in existing markets," Wal-Mart community affairs manager Mia Masten told the NY Daily News yesterday. "We don't have any stores in Manhattan right now."
- KC's View:
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We could be wrong on this one. We were, after all, born in Greenwich Village and have a somewhat parochial view of New York. But we think that by moving into New York, Wal-Mart might end up with those little town blues. It'll be fun to watch the strong unions that exist in New York go toe-to-toe with the Bentonville Behemoth…and in this battle, we wouldn’t bet against the unions.
It is possible that Wal-Mart might be able to make a go of it in Brooklyn and Manhattan…but it ain't gonna be easy.
