Supercenter bad for Portland

On Friday, June 25, a woman entered Strohl’s with a telephone that needed a new battery. She also had with her new batteries, which she had purchased elsewhere. She asked me to replace the batteries in her phone. As I started to, I noticed the phone did not require the 9-volt that she had, but the phone needed AAA batteries.

After I pointed this out to her, I asked if she would like to purchase AAA batteries for me to replace. Her response to me was “Are they cheaper at Wal-Mart?” I handed her telephone back to her and she left. This type of conversation is not uncommon in Portland.

On July 1, Mr. and Mrs. Durham stated in a letter to the editor that Portland businesses have survived quite well since Wal-Mart came to town. Where did the Durhams do their research? Do they realize that over 26 retail businesses have ceased being in business since Wal-Mart came to town nine years ago? And when will the multitudes of people start coming to Portland? Again, Wal-Mart has been here for nine years and I don’t believe the local merchants have seen these multitudes of shoppers from surrounding areas. Until you have been a retail merchant in a small town such as Portland, I don’t think you can assume what the small businesses are going through. Grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. For those of you who want a grocery, build one. It sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?

The concept of a Wal-Mart Supercenter coming to Portland has become the talk of the town. Residents seem to think Portland needs another grocery. Do we? Has LoBill not been loyal to Portland? If you are unhappy with LoBill, have you told them? You say LoBill is overpriced? Have you priced groceries elsewhere? Do you realize Portland has a Family Dollar and a Dollar General which have items priced lower than the current Wal-Mart? And Fort Recovery has a very nice grocery. What will the impact of a Supercenter be on Old Fort IGA? Can Portland support two groceries? If not, what will we be left with?

Let’s take the grocery out of the equation of the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Does Portland really need a larger Wal-Mart? And have you stopped to think why Wal-Mart would want to build a Supercenter in a town the size of Portland? And to leave an existing building empty? Who in Portland will benefit from a larger Wal-Mart? You can drive 30 miles in any direction of Portland and reach a Wal-Mart Supercenter. So why does Wal-Mart want to become larger in Portland? Building a similar store so close to another is considered marketing-by-saturation tactics. Local businesses will suffer because of the buy-it-cheaper-no-matter-the-quality mentality Wal-Mart has implanted among consumers.

Is there credibility to the well-circulated idea that when Wal-Mart enters a small city, it lowers its prices to the point of losing money to put the local businesses under? Then does Wal-Mart raise their prices? Do residents have a choice then? Have you priced items at the Portland Wal-Mart and the Muncie Wal-Mart? Big difference. How about diapers and formula? How many of you have driven to Celina, Greenville or Winchester because their Wal-Marts are cheaper on these items? Not all Wal-Marts are created equal when it comes to pricing.

Studies show that a new Wal-Mart usually produces a net loss in sales tax revenue over five years. Studies also point to a 19 percent loss of retail over a 20-mile radius over 5 years. Sales at Wal-Mart cause direct losses to local businesses; they sell the same products already being sold in town. Money spent at locally-owned businesses stays local and is spent again and again; money spent at a Wal-Mart goes to Bentonville, Ark.

The myth that a Supercenter will bring shoppers is just that, a myth. When was the last time you drove to Fort Recovery to the grocery and also shopped downtown Fort Recovery? Or Muncie or Winchester? So why would Portland be any different?

I have not even touched on the drainage problems that could occur. What about the residents of Heritage Commons? Will their condos depreciate? FCC, the Jay County Hospital and Heritage Commons have said they all want to expand in the future. Will this be possible? Can the Wehrly Ditch handle all of this expansion? What will be the added expense to Portland residents for all of this expansion?

I am not against the growth of Portland. But I do believe growth by Wal-Mart is not Portland growth. If Portland needs a grocery, then find a grocery. The people who signed the first letter to the editor are not preaching “gloom and doom.” They are looking out for their futures. Currently Portland is growing. Downtown Portland is adding the type of shops that do bring shoppers to town. Specialty shops, which can’t be found every 30 miles. Why can’t Portland be different and unique? Let’s give shoppers something they can’t find elsewhere. Portland is a great place to live and raise a family. Let’s not ruin that atmosphere.

Portland is not the only small town to have dilemma. If you are curious, go to the Internet and search Wal-Mart. We are not alone.

There are many unknowns and unanswered questions. Let’s think about the future. Have you asked yourselves why the mayor and commissioners are pursuing this growth through so fast? And so quietly? We are all residents of Portland and we should all be concerned. If you are concerned, speak up before it is too late.

Debi Gillespie

Portland, a former Portland

business owner[[In-content Ad]]