I'll take a slightly different edge to the "Wal Mart effect," and admit we are using Wal Mart as a example only as we could easily be talking about Target, KMart, etc.
People have been talking lately about how much they do not want "big box" stores in historic areas of Buffalo. Fair enough. But I and some other posters have been saying that allowing some "big box" types into other areas of the city in general might not be so bad.
I agree also that these establishements provide mostly entry level jobs with little or no benefits, but ENTRY LEVEL is called as such for a reason. Those types of jobs give people work experience that they can then hopefully one day transfer to a higher level job.
Right now many parts of Buffalo don't even offer people the chance for entry level jobs... And if these are jobs for teenagers, then GET THE TEENAGERS WORKING!
I worked at a "big box" discount store as a teen and it gave me work experience and allowed me to save money to buy my first car. And when people move up to middle or upper management at these places the pay can be pretty decent and so can the benefits.
Also, big boxes provide access to good and services. That's just how it works in today's economy, we have to just accept it... You can't buy a toaster oven or a laundry basket at a trendy boutique.
Then again, we have so many people who are against new build anything...
Today I was downtown for an appointment and I made my way up Main Street heading towards downtown. I passed the I believe Delta Sonic gas station and car wash. It looks like they have expanded and rebuilt it lately and now it includes a Dunkin' Doughnuts, a small grocery store, etc. Is is newly built, shiny and NEW and I thought, "Good for them!" It obviously is serving a purpose in the neighborhood for both close by residents and those who regularly commute to downtown...
As I made my way back I noticed that there are many residential neighborhoods off off Main Street near downtown... There are people who LIVE THERE who could benefit from a commercial shopping district. Most of the people who live their now must commute to the suburbs to shop
I would like to see more new commerical establishements along that part of Main Street. Maybe not a Wal Mart, maybe a Target or KMart.
Right now, for all of the people who live off of Main Street near downtown... Where the heck to those people go for basic goods and services?
And a few years back, after much fighting for it, they finally got a new Tops on Jefferson Avenue and now I have heard that Jefferson Avenue is starting to revive itself... Good for them.
New build retail establishments, even if they are the much maligned "big box," do serve a purpose and have their place in the economy.