MONROE - Business owner's reactions to Walmart's move across Wisconsin 11 are mixed.
Some stores in the Honey Creek Shopping Center on 8th Street will follow the giant across the highway when Walmart opens its new store Sept. 2.
J. Wise Smith met with the Monroe Plan Commission Feb. 11 to begin plans for a strip mall west the Supercenter, but no city permits have been issued yet. He expected to have a "dollar store" and possibly a deli in the mall, and wanted to open in time with Walmart.
Smith has built strip malls in the shadows of Walmart stores in Memphis, Tenn., Pella, Iowa; and Vermilion, S.D., in the past three years.
Maurice's will be moving to the new mall, said manager Samantha Risseeuw. The store will have the same square footage, but will be square, which reduces shoplifting, she explained.
ProCellular Wireless Communications will move also, said store manager Elysia O'Brien. She hopes the foot "traffic will pickup." The company had also hoped to time their switch to a different cellular service provider with the move to a new location.
Cost Cutter's will also be moving - and staying in Honey Creek. They are opening a second store in Walmart.
Perk's Coffee Cafe will be staying at Honey Creek, where they have built up a strong customer base, as are Bronzed Image Premier Tanning Salon and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant.
Bronzed Image manager Laura Segner said she hadn't give much thought to Walmart's move, "unless they get a tanning salon." Bronzed Image expanded and moved to the front of the building.
Fiesta Cancun wants to expand, but is waiting to hear whether the city will grant them a Class B liquor and beer licenses.
Gary Abduli, owner of The Swiss Alps Restaurant at West 4th Avenue and 8th Street is looking forward to the Supercenter opening.
"I am anxious," he said. "But I think (business) will be better. They will bring more people from out of the area."
The worse Abduli expects is that Walmart will have no effect. The overall economy is what hurts right now, he said. "There are no big drops or pickups," he said.
Nick Hartman, manager of Badger Express Lube, is anxious because the Walmart Supercenter will have an automotive department offering the same services.
"It could go either way," he said about the effect on his business. "People (coming to Walmart) see us here now."
Hartman said customers often drop off their car and shop at Walmart across the street while they wait.
To keep customers coming, Badger Express has lowered its first hour of labor from $65 to $29.95 two weeks ago, and has started offering $10-off coupons. The owner is talking about increasing advertising, he added.
For customers to pass the time while they wait, Hartman provides a television, movies and a Sony Play Station 2.
Dave Gombosi of Radio Shack and Vice-president of Monroe Chamber of Commerce said he is "definitely concerned" the west side needs a revitalization, now that the downtown is getting a revitalization.
"The city and the chamber need to look at the west side and bring in the right businesses," he added.
Radio Shack was asked to move to the new strip mall, but Gombosi said he prefers to patronize the local property owners. Wise Smith's company is based in Memphis.
Other communities have dealt with Walmart locations moving to Supercenters. Gombosi noted Janesville "moved in right away and refitted" their building to a mall that has been very successful, he said.
In Oshkosh, about five years ago, the property was bulldozed.
Walmart moved one mile from the intersection of Interstate 41/44, which is "a very marketable area," said Rob Kleman, executive director of Oshkosh Area Economic Development Corporation.
"JC Penny and Rogan Shoes were still there, but Piggly Wiggly closed," he said. "It was a slow process to redevelop Aviation Plaza, and it created some challenges for the community. The turning point came when the existing ownership group bulldozed, and made it a more developable site.
Pam Christopher, director of Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they will continue to look at the Monroe Walmart property and try to locate the best businesses for the location.
"It's not on the market yet, ... but is on our radar screen," she said.
As for Honey Creek Shopping Center, Christopher said the chamber is continuing to work with the owners of the property.
"We want to make it as eye appealing as we can," she said.
Some stores in the Honey Creek Shopping Center on 8th Street will follow the giant across the highway when Walmart opens its new store Sept. 2.
J. Wise Smith met with the Monroe Plan Commission Feb. 11 to begin plans for a strip mall west the Supercenter, but no city permits have been issued yet. He expected to have a "dollar store" and possibly a deli in the mall, and wanted to open in time with Walmart.
Smith has built strip malls in the shadows of Walmart stores in Memphis, Tenn., Pella, Iowa; and Vermilion, S.D., in the past three years.
Maurice's will be moving to the new mall, said manager Samantha Risseeuw. The store will have the same square footage, but will be square, which reduces shoplifting, she explained.
ProCellular Wireless Communications will move also, said store manager Elysia O'Brien. She hopes the foot "traffic will pickup." The company had also hoped to time their switch to a different cellular service provider with the move to a new location.
Cost Cutter's will also be moving - and staying in Honey Creek. They are opening a second store in Walmart.
Perk's Coffee Cafe will be staying at Honey Creek, where they have built up a strong customer base, as are Bronzed Image Premier Tanning Salon and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant.
Bronzed Image manager Laura Segner said she hadn't give much thought to Walmart's move, "unless they get a tanning salon." Bronzed Image expanded and moved to the front of the building.
Fiesta Cancun wants to expand, but is waiting to hear whether the city will grant them a Class B liquor and beer licenses.
Gary Abduli, owner of The Swiss Alps Restaurant at West 4th Avenue and 8th Street is looking forward to the Supercenter opening.
"I am anxious," he said. "But I think (business) will be better. They will bring more people from out of the area."
The worse Abduli expects is that Walmart will have no effect. The overall economy is what hurts right now, he said. "There are no big drops or pickups," he said.
Nick Hartman, manager of Badger Express Lube, is anxious because the Walmart Supercenter will have an automotive department offering the same services.
"It could go either way," he said about the effect on his business. "People (coming to Walmart) see us here now."
Hartman said customers often drop off their car and shop at Walmart across the street while they wait.
To keep customers coming, Badger Express has lowered its first hour of labor from $65 to $29.95 two weeks ago, and has started offering $10-off coupons. The owner is talking about increasing advertising, he added.
For customers to pass the time while they wait, Hartman provides a television, movies and a Sony Play Station 2.
Dave Gombosi of Radio Shack and Vice-president of Monroe Chamber of Commerce said he is "definitely concerned" the west side needs a revitalization, now that the downtown is getting a revitalization.
"The city and the chamber need to look at the west side and bring in the right businesses," he added.
Radio Shack was asked to move to the new strip mall, but Gombosi said he prefers to patronize the local property owners. Wise Smith's company is based in Memphis.
Other communities have dealt with Walmart locations moving to Supercenters. Gombosi noted Janesville "moved in right away and refitted" their building to a mall that has been very successful, he said.
In Oshkosh, about five years ago, the property was bulldozed.
Walmart moved one mile from the intersection of Interstate 41/44, which is "a very marketable area," said Rob Kleman, executive director of Oshkosh Area Economic Development Corporation.
"JC Penny and Rogan Shoes were still there, but Piggly Wiggly closed," he said. "It was a slow process to redevelop Aviation Plaza, and it created some challenges for the community. The turning point came when the existing ownership group bulldozed, and made it a more developable site.
Pam Christopher, director of Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they will continue to look at the Monroe Walmart property and try to locate the best businesses for the location.
"It's not on the market yet, ... but is on our radar screen," she said.
As for Honey Creek Shopping Center, Christopher said the chamber is continuing to work with the owners of the property.
"We want to make it as eye appealing as we can," she said.