West Loop Wal-Mart in talks with alderman

Fioretti says he's demanding jobs for locals

04/20/2011 10:39 AM

By Ben Meyerson
Editor

5 Comments - Add Your Comment

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) said he’s demanding a new Wal-Mart in the West Loop hire locals to work on and at the store.

At a groundbreaking for a new police station on the Near West Side last week, Fioretti said he’s been meeting with representatives from the company to talk about their plans for the store.

“It wouldn’t matter who they were — they have to hire from the community,” Fioretti said. “Not just Wal-Mart, but Target, Costco, all the groups. That way, we have people working, walking to work in our communities.”

He said he was drawing up a list of things he wanted to see Wal-Mart offer to the community.

Earlier at the same event, outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley lambasted the city’s aldermen for fighting the Wal-Mart influx, and the relative quiet that’s surrounded the Presidential Towers store.

“We fought six years for Wal-Mart, and everybody loves Wal-Mart now. I don’t get it. … We’re building one at Presidential Towers, no one says anything!” Daley said. “All the aldermen … now they all want ’em. It’s like, you know, they want ice cream, and they want it bad, they want it right away, and so it’s really kind of sad.”

The proposed store would be one of Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Markets, essentially a grocery store.

A Wal-Mart spokesman did not return calls from Chicago Journal asking for comment.


5 Comments - Add Your Comment



By SM from West Haven Park
Posted: 05/30/2011 10:34 PM

West Loop already has many options for groceries! How about thinking a little further West? There has been absolutely no work or updates on Pete's new location on Western and Madison! Will we get a grocery store anytime soon?


By Sumit from United Center
Posted: 05/30/2011 1:00 PM

Where's the Pete's Fresh Market, we were promised. I see no update after Feb 2011. I guess Alderman needs more money from Pete's before the ground-breaking.


By Jay from University Village
Posted: 04/30/2011 11:24 AM

Forget about WalMart. What about Trader Joe's at the old Testa Produce, 15th and Blue Island?? You can't beat being closer to a police station than that! Go to Trader Joe's website and request them to locate here rather than at Wabash and Roosevelt. Please!!


By claudea from united center
Posted: 04/26/2011 12:49 PM

Why is the progress on the Pete's on Western so slow and so quiet? It's frustratring. The sad part is, if it had the kind of self-financing any of the big players had we would probably be smelling fresh bread every morning.


By tomd.arch from West Town
Posted: 04/20/2011 2:15 PM

I'm sure we will all be Shocked! Shocked! to learn some day in the future if WalMart cash has been flowing into the campaigns/pockets of these alder(wo)men, or if their spouses or relatives have been given "consulting contracts." Why, as Daley pointed out, are all these aldermen suddenly on board for their does of the crystal meth of community development (WalMart seems to be stimulating, but leaves you toothless, weak and immaciated...)? He was right to point out, "it’s really kind of sad."