Fairhope, Alabama
Updated to include mayor's recent comments.
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| New Fairhope Walmart colors. |
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| Old colors. |
STORE BEING REMODELED
Mayor Sullivan says the new blue/gray paint scheme at the Walmart store on Hwy 181 is being checked for compliance with any agreements made with the city in 2007 concerning the appearance of the store.
Then mayor Kant was quoted at the July 2007 store ribbon cutting: "Walmart has demonstrated willingness to be a good neighbor and work with the city on aesthetics making certain building design, colors ... fit with the overall feel of Fairhope." Earlier Kant had said he did not want to see a big blue box there.
Sullivan told the Times she is checking for actual documentation of architectural standards agreed to during construction.
Update: Mayor Sullivan would not comment on the new colors but added later: "There was no agreement. When they were building (in the County) they 'worked with us' to accommodate some design considerations. They were trying to get approved and we had their full attention. But there were no official agreements or guidelines. There's no way we could have forced that as they were unzoned in the County."
REMODEL UNDERWAY INSIDE TOO
According to a Walmart press release, its superstores are being remodeled:
"In today’s omnichannel world, customers still want to experience – touch, feel and try – items. So, we’re now aiming to make customers feel wowed and proud when they shop with us. We’re using powerful design elements to show off amazing products that wow our customers, and when they see the value, they are proud of their choice and purchase.
Last year, we announced the first phase of our store redesign that was focused on navigation and wayfinding. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we now have close to 1,000 stores renovated with this new design to help customers save time in finding what they need.
In this next phase of our redesign, we’re amplifying the physical, human and digital design elements in our stores to inspire customers and elevate the experience. Physical elements include lighting, space enhancements, dynamic displays and more. Our visual merchandising experts have highlighted exciting brands and created engaging experiences that bring to life the human element. Finally, QR codes and digital screens create opportunities for digital exploration. But making the store more engaging isn’t enough. We have to do all of this in a way that is unique to Walmart."
GRAND REOPENING COMING
A "grand re-opening" of the store is scheduled for May 5.
Comments
I have witnessed the deterioration of this store. The store is poorly stocked, poorly run, and poorly managed. One cannot get help from the employees as they avoid the customers
The only staff one will see is the employees loading carts for curbside pickup and they will bump you and your cart out of their way
The management of this store has demonstrated that it does not care
I started going to Publix. I may pay more but i am willing to pay more to avoid the belligerent practices of Walmart. Sam Walton is spinning in his grave
To avoid Walmart and pay more to shop
At a decent store is what is called “The noWalmart Premium.”
Hey management of Walmart: Do you care? No, you don’t. This is why Aldi is right beside you. To siphon off business that you will lose
So back to the point of the article, if the new Walmart color scheme doesn't please your eye, don't go there. Problem solved!
To shop there.
Oh great! Now we'll have another tacky mural like the one downtown. Sure hope the new owners of that building do something with that.
All wrong? Really? No room--at all--for aesthetic considerations in planning and zoning?
May I suggest, instead, that one who so casually exercises a God-like certitude in issuing categorical judgments against one's neighbors would be well-served by more introspection and less blogging.
At the very least, one might avoid hysterical false-dilemmas and embarrassing straw man arguments.
For the record, I have no objection (worthy of the exercise of governmental authority, anyway) to the garish blue for this particular retailer in this particular place, though I understand and respect differing opinions.