Community-Designed Stores?

The Retail Design Diva blog reports:

you've followed Wal-Mart's efforts to adapt to community design aesthetics, you won't be surprised to hear that a new Wal-Mart under construction in Atlanta received support from an alliance of 17 community associations after the company agreed to make radical changes to its store exterior. What shocked me was the fact that the Northwest Community Alliance also has been promised input on the store's interior design and merchandise mix.

In developing a custom design for the 150,000-square-foot store's interior, Wal-Mart will involve a panel of community members with expertise in architecture, design or "artistic ability." Included in the panel will be Jerry Phillips, the local architect who worked with them to develop the unique exterior design.

Interesting, a step forward, and an example to use when dealing with other national chains, but better design and better mix doesn't obviate the usually negative impact on the local economy that results from a Wal-Mart store, such as discussed in this piece by the daughter of a family that owns a print shop in Wyoming, "A Wal-Mart Grows in Wyoming," describing how the client base of the business is drying up as locally-owned businesses are closing in the face of the national and international buying power of Wal-Mart operating in their small community.

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