A visible sign of the Walmart effect can be seen on Monroes west side.
If you have driven or walked on the recently poured sidewalk along the east side of 6th Avenue West lately you almost surely have noticed a new building is springing up just west across the road from the newest Walmart Supercenter in the state.
A strip center owned by J. Wise Smith is under construction, and its shell is taking shape.
He met with the Monroe Plan Commission back in February to begin plans for a strip mall west the Supercenter. He expected to have a dollar store and possibly a deli in the mall, and wanted to open in time with Walmart.
The strip center obviously didnt open in time to coincide with the opening of Walmart Sept. 2, but Smith does have a building permit to complete the basic structure of the mall, according to records from the city Building Inspectors office.
The city has not received any state approved plans for any businesses to move into the center, city records indicate. However, managers and owners of local businesses in Monroe have stated they will be moving to the new shopping center to be closer to the retail giant.
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 Samantha Risseeuw, manager, in a previous Times article. The store will have the same square footage, but will be square, which reduces shoplifting, she explained.
ProCellular Wireless Communications also plans to move, store manager Elysia O'Brien said.
Dont be surprised if more businesses move to be closer to Walmart, it is after all the largest retail chain in the country, though hopefully the refurbishing of the Square will help keep businesses and shoppers downtown as well.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Keep sending your farmhouse photos. If I collect just a few more, the project can get off the ground. Remember, I only need a straight-on shot of your farmhouse to help document how farm families have lived over the years. No barns or people in the frame, please. Send the photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
If you have driven or walked on the recently poured sidewalk along the east side of 6th Avenue West lately you almost surely have noticed a new building is springing up just west across the road from the newest Walmart Supercenter in the state.
A strip center owned by J. Wise Smith is under construction, and its shell is taking shape.
He met with the Monroe Plan Commission back in February to begin plans for a strip mall west the Supercenter. He expected to have a dollar store and possibly a deli in the mall, and wanted to open in time with Walmart.
The strip center obviously didnt open in time to coincide with the opening of Walmart Sept. 2, but Smith does have a building permit to complete the basic structure of the mall, according to records from the city Building Inspectors office.
The city has not received any state approved plans for any businesses to move into the center, city records indicate. However, managers and owners of local businesses in Monroe have stated they will be moving to the new shopping center to be closer to the retail giant.
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 Samantha Risseeuw, manager, in a previous Times article. The store will have the same square footage, but will be square, which reduces shoplifting, she explained.
ProCellular Wireless Communications also plans to move, store manager Elysia O'Brien said.
Dont be surprised if more businesses move to be closer to Walmart, it is after all the largest retail chain in the country, though hopefully the refurbishing of the Square will help keep businesses and shoppers downtown as well.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Keep sending your farmhouse photos. If I collect just a few more, the project can get off the ground. Remember, I only need a straight-on shot of your farmhouse to help document how farm families have lived over the years. No barns or people in the frame, please. Send the photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
