There's Bren, making sure he's the first to comment to spread his anti-Walmart propaganda!

What propaganda? Everything I write about Walmart is documented fact. The jobs they provide lead workers right to BadgerCare (and its equivalent in other states) and other aid programs. Who pays for BadgerCare and state aid? Do you wonder, as you wait in the lengthy Walmart line, why jobs keep moving overseas and why so many Americans remain in aid programs? Why are you "apologizing" for this poor corporate citizen?

Bren, I believe that you have been misinformed about Walmart's contributions to your community. Every year, Walmart donates millions of pounds of food to local food banks and food pantries, and consistently provides sizable donations that keep important non-profit organizations going! I am pleased to hear that you were able to attend a previous grand opening ceremony, and am curious if you were able to meet with the store manager? That individual started his career as a Walmart cashier... talk about advancement opportunities! You are entitled to your opinion, and if you prefer to shop at small ma and pop stores I can certainly respect that. To come on here and call Walmart a "poor corporate citizen" however, is a drastic overreach, if not an outright lie.

I am not, and never have been a Walmart employee. I will however, be stopping by after work and loading up a full cart of fresh groceries (on principal of course).

Walmart employees will be on food stamps, going to food pantry's, and on medicaid/badger care as they are all underpaid, and will qualify for any and all poverty level benefits. Walmart simply pays a non livable wage, not to mention no benefits for all their 39.5 hours a week PART time jobs. Low cost items because the workers that actually make the items they sell actually are making $1.00 a DAY. The factory that burned down with hundreds of workers inside in Bangladesh were in the process of assembling Walmart cloths. I will NOT be shopping in that store as their hands are bloody.

People have been complaining since the Village Board passed this whole stupid construction plan. We weren't given the chance to vote on this because it was never put on a referendum. The Board claimed that no other business wanted to build on the site except Walmart. How do we fight something on which we were given no choice to put down?

Spooner WI public managed to block Wally World from building one of their monstrosities. They built one in Rice Lake WI, they received a huge tax break for a period of time because it was thought they would bring in revenue later. Instead they ditched the old building (huge white elephant) as soon as the tax break ran out, and then built right on the outskirts of town so as not to have to pay any municiple taxes. Plus their employees all qualify for poverty level benefits. Low cost items but at what cost to the locals?

Nikki is 100% correct. I was told at the Walmart Open House event that after the RFP was circulated Walmart was the only company that picked it up. This directly contradicts what Patch has been told, that the Village Board was actively trying to recruit. Perhaps that one board member was trying to abbreviate the process and inadvertently misrepresented it by mistake. But it certainly seemed at the time that someone really wanted Walmart in Greendale.

I and others at the Open House shared the Walmart business model in other communities and were smugly told, "That won't happen here." I, and others standing nearby, shared that that's what the local leadership in every other community has said (in variation). It was very clear that the Board had already signed on with Walmart. Our words fell on deaf ears. Well guess what. Greendale's "very own grocery" store looks more like a bargain basement full of Walmart crapola. We looked at exterior design plans that, while uninspired, seemed not as ugly as some other Walmarts. Well guess what. We now have one of those ugly Walmarts.

If there is a tax boost I'm sure that much of it will be negated by the increased burden on village resources that this eyesore will create. Potential crime increase, litter increase, etc.

I'll never know as I won't step foot in the place, but I'd be curious to know if they have replicated and underpriced products sold on Broad Street as they do in other communities to destroy the competition.

Nicki, You don't put businesses to a referendum. That would be outright foolish. You would see no company want to do business in the village because they wouldn't want to wait until the next election to build. Plus, with the mall located in the village, you guys would be voting ALL THE TIME because of the stores that come in and go out. Your comment makes no sense.

Bryan K, Nicki's comment makes complete sense because the residents of an historic district are stewards of a piece of American history and should have a say in what happens in the community. The Walmart is not in the original Village per se but it is 1) Not what residents were informed it would be, a small market-type store with focus on groceries, and 2) Respectful of its upscale location with an attractive "feel" that we were also promised.

I have found by comparison shopping that many of my staple items are cheaper at Sendik's than at Pick n Save. They also have the best meat and seafood in the area. Their bakery is great; again I have purchased rolls which are priced less than at Pick n Save. I wouldn't even consider purchasing meat or seafood at Walmart.

Remember too that China, now the world's largest exporter of aquaculture, was the origin of the tainted gluten that killed approximately 5,000 cats and dogs in the U.S. That chemical was found in the food pellets fed to fish and chicken intended for the U.S. market. This scandal was eventually sanitized in the U.S. but indications were strong that the chemical had also found its way into human-grade gluten through industrial-use (restaurant) exports. Much of the issue had to do with a Chinese company subcontracting work to an unregulated factory. The U.S. company reps that toured the shiny Chinese factory were never told that the actual processing/production was taking place in a filthy, uninspected location.

I would never purchase Chinese food products. Pick N Save is one grocer chain that posts the country of origin of its fresh fish offerings. One may easily check the country of origin on frozen seafood products.

The amount of inferior Chinese product, transported in filthy conditions (e.g. excrement) that is turned away by the U.S. Customs service is staggering. This department is understaffed, and it makes one wonder how much of this garbage gets through without inspection and makes it onto the shelves in stores like Walmart. Wouldn't want to touch a crate or product in a Walmart.