Wal-Mart’s announcement last week of a new West Loop grocery store made news around the city.

The controversial grocer has been doing battle to get a foothold in the city, and a location so close to downtown caught many off guard. With so many vicious battles being fought over the massive warehouse-like stores set for the West and South sides, the store’s announcement that it was simply moving in was a slick move.

Without any zoning changes needed, there’s little anyone can do to stop the development, and the company knows it. They’re simply replacing another grocery store that was already there.

While the store is sure to bring plenty of controversy in the coming months, it’s worth considering just how much of it is just about the name in this case.

Another non-union grocery chain moving into the location likely would avoid any controversy. Additionally, this won’t be a monolithic big box store likely to put local mom-and-pop shops out of business. In a neighborhood so close to downtown and so densely populated, there’s plenty of demand.

We’re interested to see just how different this store is, compared to other grocers around the city. Folks in other parts of the country seem to treat Neighborhood Market stores just like any other grocery store.

We’re still not big fans of Wal-Mart’s corporate union-busting tactics and low wages. But as a way for high-rise residents to get their vittles, it’s hard to distinguish between names here.

Let’s see how talks go between the company and 2nd Ward Ald. Robert Fioretti, and let’s see a new traffic study, taking into account a grocery store twice the size of what was previously planned and the impact and draw of the Wal-Mart name.