Walmart spokesman Steven Restivo took slight issue with the tone of our story about his beloved box stores, saying via email that “some of the louder voices [of opposition] in this debate just don’t represent the majority opinion.”
To prove his point, he pointed to a poll commissioned by the retailer last year that showed nearly three-fourths of District residents are in favor of the stores coming to D.C.
In addition, he said that D.C. residents accounted for $41 million in sales last year at Walmarts outside of the city.
In our reporting of the story, we found activists and business owners opposed to Walmart. But somewhat to Restivo’s point, we also found people who, if not cheering the stores, were at least resigned to them.
Joe Finley, who runs a blog about life in Fort Totten called, appropriately, The Totten Life, said the store could be better for the community than many people expect, especially if there are set-aside jobs for local residents. And it could enliven the landscape a bit, he said, adding that the lot where Walmart plans to build has been “sitting there for awhile, vacant and looking absolutely terrible.”
Rebecca Mills, a Ward 4 resident who has been vocal in her opposition to the Walmart planned along Georgia Avenue several blocks from her home, said that support for the store is split in her community. And even as she wishes it wouldn’t be built at all, it might become useful.
“When it’s two blocks from my house, I can’t honestly say I’ll never be there,” Mills said.
