Labor, neighbors rally against Lakeview Walmart (Chicago)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chibrkbus-labor-neighbors-rally-against-lakeview-walmart-20110421,0,2725157.story

By Alejandra Cancino

2:16 p.m. CDT, April 21, 2011

Lakeview East community members, union representatives and local labor organizations on Thursday rallied against a proposed Wal-Mart store that they said would send local shops out of business.

The proposed 32,000-square-foot store would move into the first floor of the Broadway at Surf building. It would share the building with Bed Bath & Beyond and T.J. Maxx.

Mark Thomas, owner of The Alley Stores, was among the about 20 people who stood in front of building on the 2800 block of North Broadway Street to increase awareness to their cause.

Thomas said he has been a retailer and manufacturer in Lakeview for more than 30 years.

"I don't need to see a study to know what happens when a national chain moves in," he said, adding that when a Designer Shoe Warehouse opened in Lakeview, five locally owned shoe stores closed.

FULL story at link.