Within the next five years residents living in predominately minority communities on the South and West Sides may finally be able to buy basic services, such as groceries, without having to travel outside their comfort zone.
Within the next five years residents living in predominately minority communities on the South and West Sides may finally be able to buy basic services, such as groceries, without having to travel outside their comfort zone. Bentonville, Ark-based Wal-mart Stores Inc. plans to build several dozen stores throughout Chicago as part of a $1 billion expansion plan, according to Steven Restivo, director of Community Affairs for the retail giant. “We are evaluating Chicago neighborhoods that are in need of jobs, groceries and have a need for Walmart,” Restivo told the Defender. “I expect many of those neighborhoods to be on the West and South Sides with a large minority population.” He added that the expansion plan does not concentrate on minority communities only but all of Chicago. “But if services are needed the most in minority communities that is where we will build,” Restivo explained. Every store built as part of Walmart’s expansion within Chicago would sell groceries but could vary in size ranging from 30,000-square-feet to 150,000-square-feet. And employees would earn over the state’s minimum wage of $8.25 per hour. “The average hourly wage for associates at our West Side store is $11.77 per hour and that does not include management who earn more than our associates,” Restivo explained. “Walmart believes in paying livable wages and quite frankly we pay a higher starting wage than most Chicago retailers.” Last week the City Council unanimously approved a South Side Walmart, which will anchor the 270-acre Pullman Park development near the Bishop Ford Expressway at 111th Street. The store is expected to be complete by 2012, according to Ald. Anthony Beale, whose 9th Ward includes the Pullman and Roseland communities on the Far South Side. “This Walmart offers a lot for the South Side. It offers jobs, economic development and food. It hurts me to see our seniors boarding buses to go outside the community to buy basic services,” Beale said. One South Side community Restivo said Walmart is considering is Chatham where Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st) has unsuccessfully tried to get City Council approval. Restivo said he expects Walmart to have identified more communities by September. And now that Beale has received approval for a store to be built in his ward, Brookins said he is confident he can finally win approval for a Walmart in his. “The next Walmart built in Chicago will be on 83rd and Stewart. You can count on that,” he said. “I have not given up on getting a Walmart in my ward and will push to have my Walmart proposal reintroduced at the next City Council meeting.” Beale agreed with Brookins and said building a Walmart in the 21st Ward first makes sense. “His development is shovel ready and construction could start tomorrow,” Beale said. “He (Ald. Brookins) supported me and I plan to support him.” Some Black aldermen said while they would welcome a Walmart to their ward they would stress a livable wage as one condition. “I could use a Walmart in my ward but they must be willing to pay people a livable wage,” said West Side Ald. Ed. Smith (28th). “Walmart will pay employees (at its Pullman park store) $8.75 per hour for 30 hours week. That comes to $262.50 a week or $13,650 a year. Who can support their family making that amount of money?” Currently the West Side has the only Walmart in the city, located at 4650 W. North Ave. in Ald. Emma Mitts’ 37th Ward. She said since its 2006 opening the store has been a lifesaver. “Walmart has been nothing but good economic news for my community. During today’s harsh climate, people are looking for jobs and sustainability for their families,” Mitts told the Defender. “Not only do we now have the 400-plus Walmart jobs, we have created nearly 500 more with the opening of several new major retailers since the Walmart opened.” South Side Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) said Walmart could do a lot more for its employees. “I would like to see them pay higher wages,” she said. “They can and should do more.”
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.