Wow, this is a big story, Jette, and I hope you're wrong about the local stores. We try to avoid going to WalMart, even though it's a few miles north of my house. There isn't anything like Sun Harvest up here so we drive down to your neighborhood.

Do you really think the WalMart can force the other businesses out? People who want to shop there are already spending their money at the outlying stores, not going to Zingers and Grapevine Market.

I know of some Central Austin senior citizens who are taken on buses once in a while. They keep a WalMart list, then wait for the excursion, or ask for someone to drive them North or NW.

Annie

I hope you're right, Annie. I'd love to be wrong. The Statesman article noted that Wal-Mart is opening these "gourmet"-themed stores, though, and that sounded to me like trouble for Grapevine Market (and even Whole Foods maybe). I am also worried that people who run over to Sun Harvest merely for convenience (like we often do) will run over to Wal-Mart instead.

I think I'm just irritated by the Statesman article, which was all sweetness and light -- I hope I can find out more on the actual status of the store, and how it will affect the neighborhood. Anderson Lane is already congested; this wouldn't help.

Let's see, you bought a house near a huge shopping mall.

Now you're upset because instead of Sears and Penney's you'll have a Walmart.

You're being greedy and selfish. The mall was there long before you.

If you want to dictate what retailers lease there then you need just need to buy the property.