Evil Empire weasels way around anti big box store law

[TheMightyFavog]

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBXPD5RP6E.html

DUNKIRK, Md. - The fight last summer followed a plot line similar to other big box battles across the country: Wal-Mart proposes a massive retail store, community groups rally against it and local lawmakers pass restrictive zoning laws designed to keep the sprawling store out of town.

But the story of Wal-Mart's plans to build in the Calvert County town of Dunkirk has a unique sequel. Faced with limitations that would block plans for a 145,000-square-foot store, Wal-Mart circumvented the new rules by splitting the store in two.

Two separate Wal-Marts, standing next to each other but not connected, would be built on the site along four- lane Maryland 4, at the gateway to the fast-growing county in Washington's outer suburbs. One would house Wal- Mart's retail section, the other a garden center. Both would share a parking lot. And both would be smaller than the 75,000-square-foot limit Calvert passed last year.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company says this is the first time it has suggested splitting stores to get around restrictive zoning ordinances.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. DAMN! Hope that somehow this does not work.

[htuttle]

2. They're adapting too quickly, keep shifting the frequency of your phasers!

[coloradodem2005]

3. LOL!!!!

That's hilarious and very true. :D

[Eagle_Eye]

4. What would be funny

What would be funny would be if this division of the store could be used in an anti-trust law suit to force WalMart to divide into smaller companies.

[maxsolomon]

5. if only they would split into dozens of smaller stores

with separate owners

and locate themselves in downtown or neighborhood centers

on city streets

near public transportation

but then they wouldn't be borgmart