Fresh produce will be among the offerings at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Presidential Towers.

Despite the company’s non-union stance and reputation for siphoning trade from nearby businesses, many locals are welcoming Walmart’s urban-oriented NeighborhoodMarket, slated to open in fall 2011 in Presidential Towers, 555 W. Madison St.

“Anything we can do to bring more business is good,” said Lynn Seermon, executive director of the West Central Association, a civic development group. “We want to encourage more choices for consumers for what they buy and more choices for what they pay for.”

The 26,491-square-foot store, one of nearly 200 small-scale grocers Walmart operates nationwide, will offer a pharmacy, deli, and bakery and will sell organic foods, fresh produce, meat, dry groceries, frozen foods, household supplies, stationery, and pet supplies. Presidential Towers’ 4,500 residents will have direct interior access to the store; the main entrance will be at the corner of Monroe and Jefferson Streets. “I love the idea because I hate going out in the winter,” said Elizabeth Gardner, a Presidential Towers resident and leasing specialist for the complex’s new owners, Waterton Associates. “We’re all about convenience here.”

Ken and Gladys Trulock, who have lived in the building since 1989, noted they were pleased to hear the news, as seven months ago the highrise lost its long-time grocer.

Walmart, in a deal to introduce several dozen stores and create 10,000 jobs by 2015, has agreed to
hire union labor to build all stores in Chicago. The company will spend an estimated $1 million for the build-out at Presidential Towers.

Nevertheless, the store will employ 50 to 75 mostly full-time, non-union workers. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union’s Local 881, representing workers for Jewel, has indicated it is creating an “education plan” about the new store.

According to the local, “unchecked expansion of Walmart through the City of Chicago would be detrimental to the existing economy through lower quality jobs, less access to health care, and the insatiable nature of Walmart’s business practices.”

“Our research shows an overwhelming support for Walmart in Chicago,” said Steve Restivo, Walmart’s director of community affairs. “Chicago residents have spent more than $500 million at [Walmart] stores outside the city.” He added that 20% of Chicago neighborhoods, representing 600,000 residents, currently live in “food deserts. Our stores can provide jobs and affordable food.”

Presidential Towers is but one of several sites Walmart has identified for new stores. The company recently announced new stores for Chatham and Pullman and two for West Englewood. The company plans to open several dozen stores in the city in the next five years.

A December 2009 study, conducted by Loyola University’s Center for Urban Research and Learning, focused on the impact of Walmart’s Austin neighborhood store that opened in 2006. Findings showed the probability of going out of business was significantly higher for establishments close to the Walmart. It also showed there was no evidence Walmart sparked any significant net growth in economic activity, net sales taxes, or employment in the area. According to the report, “Overall, the weight of evidence suggests that the Walmart opening on the West Side led to the displacement of a range of businesses…

The conclusions reached here are similar to those other researchers have found for Walmart impacts in small towns and suburbs. Under the circumstances, claims that the Chicago Walmart has led to significant economic development in nearby areas must be considered skeptically.”

In June 2010, Walmart announced the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership,” a five year plan to open several dozen stores, create approximately 10,000 jobs and 2,000 unionized construction jobs, generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes, and develop charitable partnerships worth $20 million.