Few things garner more opposition then the opening of a new Walmart store in a community. People believe that Walmart promotes sprawl more aggressive then other chains, is larger, and more devastating to the environment around it. They also cite Walmart's record on labor rights and environmental protection to be substandard if not out right breaking the law repeatedly.

Big box stores are troubling for many reasons. Most have done questionable acts in the past, much like Walmart. While, Walmart is the latest player in the game, it's certainly not a new type stores that sell a variety of items and are owned by multi-national corporations. In previous decades, Sears, Montgomery Ward, and K-Mart took up the same niche now dominated by Walmart.

Department stores, run by multi-national chains have all but wiped out local businesses with similar lines of product. Bigger department stores, that offered more variety and lower prices by their shear size beat out smaller ones. Supermarkets replaced small grocery stores ran by mom and pop operations except in the inner-city. Big stores through their economic efficiency beat out small stores.

It's not a Walmart thing. P&C Grocery, K-Mart, and many others killed the previous generation of stores that are now being killed by Walmart. Someday, a grocery and department store chain, possibly bigger, more economically efficient, or otherwise better posed to our changing market will likely replace them for their core product. It's unfortunate for the local business that directly competes, but the consumer benefits.

This not a new thing. A similar process has been happening since the beginning of the industrial revolution and is unlikely to change soon. Yet, it's a mistake to think that Walmart is the only business in a community, and that local businesses have no role in the global economy of the today or the changing the world of tomorrow. Indeed, there are many services and things one needs that are not available at the big box store or the mall, that will be continued to be provided locally.

They say one of the fast growing industries is farmer markets. Many communities now have places where people can buy food from people who grow it locally. Walmart will never compete with farmers markets, as people go there specifically not to shop at a place like Walmart for food. Walmart may provide haircuts at it stores, but it's unlikely to get into the lawn mowing business or full-scale automotive repair. Walmart also isn't going to provide landfill space or municipal water service any time soon.

Walmart will continue to be a dominant force in retailing, but it won't be alone. K-Mart and other department stores will continue to sell despite the popularity of Walmart. Smaller stores, with a focus on quality and different products will continue to thrive in our communities, as long as they can differ themselves from the the mega-retailer in terms of quality or uniqueness in product and service alike.