Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[JJxvi]

Well, I know that if they didn't say it, it must mean it won't be safe in 5 years.

[RedScare]

The city has promised that the will make repairs that will allow the bridge to stay open until 2016. 2016 is the emergency funding scenario. There is no way to get funding and construction moved up any sooner because there is an alternate route.

OK, so if the bridge gets shut down early, it will be the fault of you and RUDE. You will have AWP blood on your hands! You will not be able to blame anyone else for this, as only you and RUDE are stirring the pot.

I will make sure everyone knows who is responsible.

[fwki]

Engineers said that the bridge will last 5 years under current usage patterns? Can you provide your source, please? This 5 year guarantee is news to me.

Ok kj, playing mind games is difficult for some, but I will try to explain. The City gives us this http://www.houstontx.gov/citizensnet/YaleBridgeFurtherReduced092712.html and the Feds give us this http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ56/pdf/PLAW-107publ56.pdf . The reason we get generalizations only from the City Public Works is because our gift from the Feds (Patriot Act) makes it AGAINST FEDERAL LAW for public servant engineers to give specifics on the conditon of any infrastructure. Don't believe me? Try and get Texas DoT inspection results on anything......then prepare for the knock on the door. KHOU gives us this http://www.khou.com/news/School-bus-trucks-crossing-Yale-St-bridge-illegally-176675061.html and I quote "A Houston public works spokesman said load limits on the bridge exist to extend its life. He also said there is no cause for alarm as long as drivers follow the rules."

Fill in the blanks with the mind game, but the gaps are no leap of faith, just watch what they do....the plan is to replace the bridge in late 2016 and keep an eye on it until then, no reason to panic, no reason to harass the City, leave that to the professional whiners in RUDH.

[RedScare]

If you think Walmart will do fine, you have never dealt with road closures near a business.

Other than road closures in front of my own business (which, though a bit smaller than Walmart, survived), I suppose not.

[kylejack]

KHOU gives us this http://www.khou.com/...-176675061.html and I quote "A Houston public works spokesman said load limits on the bridge exist to extend its life. He also said there is no cause for alarm as long as drivers follow the rules."

Fill in the blanks with the mind game, but the gaps are no leap of faith, just watch what they do....the plan is to replace the bridge in late 2016 and keep an eye on it until then, no reason to panic, no reason to harass the City, leave that to the professional whiners in RUDH.

No, I don't think your evidence says what you think it says. I think the authorities have said they intend to do periodic inspections to ensure continued safety of usage of the bridge. They're not making any warranty on it lasting the full five years and none of the evidence says otherwise.

Maybe it will and maybe it won't. That's the point of the ongoing inspections.

[fwki]

No, I don't think your evidence says what you think it says. I think the authorities have said they intend to do periodic inspections to ensure continued safety of usage of the bridge. They're not making any warranty on it lasting the full five years and none of the evidence says otherwise.

Maybe it will and maybe it won't. That's the point of the ongoing inspections.

Who's talking about evidence? The Feds took care of that option. Who's talking guarantees and warranties besides you? I hate to quote myself but...."Play a mind game and believe the engineers and believe that the City's efforts to limit heavy traffic are mostly effective. " The point of the ongoing inspections is multifold, but what is the point of RUDH's bellyaching? To denigrate the good citizens of our neighborhood? That's all they are accomplishing.

[kylejack]

Who's talking about evidence? The Feds took care of that option. Who's talking guarantees and warranties besides you?

The engineers say that the bridge is safe and will remain safe for that time [5 years] under current usage patterns.

You say that they say, but you won't quote where they say it. I checked your links and none of them have the engineers saying the bridge is safe and will remain safe for 5 years.

[fwki]

You say that they say, but you won't quote where they say it. I checked your links and none of them have the engineers saying the bridge is safe and will remain safe for 5 years.

Ok, I was referring to Houston Public Works said "A Houston public works spokesman said load limits on the bridge exist to extend its life. He also said there is no cause for alarm as long as drivers follow the rules."

They cannot give specifics due to federal law, so fill in the blanks, ergo the mind game. Play semantics all you wish, but you seem unable play the game because you choose to believe RUDH instead of the city...pick your poison. Throw-in with the whiners and see if you can cause a political closure to really cement RUDH's rep around here.

[RedScare]

I kinda look at it this way. If you don't want to ride your bike on the bridge, there is another bridge 200 feet away. Me, I'm a risk taker. Plus, I come from a family of engineers. I know what the engineers are saying. So, I have no problem driving my pickup across the bridge until they replace it.

See, that was easy.

[luciaphile]

Besides, Walmart shoppers, not being as self-important as high end shoppers (they shop at Walmart afterall), are a little more patient and understanding than say, those who oppose Walmarts.

Except when they are not:

http://www.nytimes.c...wanted=all&_r=0

One need not read it all the way through to know they must have been driven mad with hunger. Same thing with the fracas over the $2 waffle irons:

http://www.huffingto..._n_1113293.html

Give a man a cheap teflon waffle iron, and teach him to beat egg whites to stiff peaks, then gently fold them in with the other ingredients -- he'll never be hungry again. This looks bad:

http://edition.cnn.c...ents/index.html

... but again, the virtuous poor were made "desperate" by retailers and their tricks, according to the psychologist. And I think in 2012 we can all agree to define the Four Freedoms upward to include freedom from: wanting the latest game console and not having it.

[RedScare]

Ah, but behavior prior to arriving at Walmart is far different than the behavior once inside. Just look at the Galleria. Soothing music and conversations in lowered voices inside the expensive stores with Italian names, but outside, the Lexus and Mercedes drivers will run you down if you dare cross the driveway in front of them. Walmart is quite the opposite. They drive slowly to the store in their '97 Ford pickups and Chevy Malibus, but once inside, will beat you within an inch of your life for the $2 waffle iron.

Don't know why that is. But, we're still talking about a 200 foot detour. Some of these posters are trying to make it into the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And me? I'm just egging it on. Few things are as amusing as the faux outrage generated in trying to make an old bridge the fault of Walmart.

[kylejack]

Don't know why that is. But, we're still talking about a 200 foot detour. Some of these posters are trying to make it into the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Pretty sure I just said that it will have some negative effect for Walmart, and even a dollar of lost profit is probably gravy for RUDH who can write angry letters to the City and DOT for free.

[samagon]

They have a $2 waffle iron at Walmart?

*submits post and runs out the door*

[luciaphile]

They have a $2 waffle iron at Walmart?

*submits post and runs out the door*

I'm afraid that was a yuletide loss leader, Samagon.

... the Lexus and Mercedes drivers will run you down if you dare cross the driveway in front of them. Walmart is quite the opposite. They drive slowly to the store in their '97 Ford pickups and Chevy Malibus, but once inside, will beat you within an inch of your life for the $2 waffle iron.

Don't know why that is. But, we're still talking about a 200 foot detour. Some of these posters are trying to make it into the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And me? I'm just egging it on. Few things are as amusing as the faux outrage generated in trying to make an old bridge the fault of Walmart.

Well, my hands are clean. I neither drive a Lexus nor need a waffle iron. I already have one. It was a wedding present to my parents in 1961. There's a picture of the gifts laid out on card tables covered with a white damask tablecloth, so the bride's mother's friends could come by and admire them -- a quaintly aspirational middle-class custom, obsolete, because, all evidence to the contrary, we no longer care about stuff.

It turns out a good waffle. I recently scrubbed the irons and reseasoned them in the oven, though, and I think that was a mistake: it actually worked better with 50 years' worth of crud.

I admit, my fellow travelers haters Wal-mart disdainers disappoint me with their fixation on the least distinguished aspect of the situation. Guys, ya gotta represent!

[fwki]

1.Denial —"This can't be happening, not to me. That’s actually a mixed-use old folks’ home on Yale"

2.Anger — "Why me? It's not fair! Who is to blame?; It’s the dang City, er, dang Airbinger, er, dang 420 agreement, um, dang people with cars….”

3.Bargaining — "If Walmart will just admit they broke the bridge and fix it, just exactly how we want it, with caliper trees and all, then we’ll move on to Eme’s Place, eventually.

4.Depression — "I'm so sad, why bother driving on Yale for anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point?"; "I miss that ole steel mill."

5.Acceptance — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well go get that 2$ waffle iron."

[s3mh]

I couldn't resist and went to the new Walmart on Sunday afternoon. My first impression was "where is everyone?" For a store that is located as centrally as any Walmart in Houston, the crowds were more like a Walmart way out in the burbs. I got a rough count of 180-190 cars in the parking lot. (I went on to Whole Foods and got a rough count of 150-60 cars in the parking lot for a store that is a quarter of the size) I know it has only been open a short amount of time, but when the Waugh Dr. Whole Foods and Dunlavy HEB opened, you had to beat someone with a stick to get a parking space the first few weeks (I have not even tried going back to Trader Joes yet, though that is more an issue of a grossly inadequate parking lot). Sure, it is just anecdotal evidence and I will have to go back in a few weeks and compare, but I think my original observation that this Walmart was nothing more than a corporate power play to drain market share from Target and Kroger seems to be on the mark. With tepid crowds like that, Walmart will be operating the store at a loss for years given the extremely high cost of the land. But, when you are the largest retailer in the world your largesse gives you the ability to take a big loss at one store in order to try to beat back gains your competitor has made in the market.

As for the store, it is really a lesson in how little you can spend on fixtures and design in a store without confusing customers into thinking that they have walked into the warehouse. All the stacks have the exact same placard holders for price specials. There is almost no difference in design between any area of the consumer goods, except for electronics and clothes. It is just very bleak everywhere. Target feels like Neimans by comparison.

All the claims from Walmart that this would be some "unique new urban design" are just BS. It is a box filled with stuff for people to buy. Tall shelves everywhere. The claim that the store would have an expanded selection of organics was also BS. I counted 7 organic selections in all of the produce department (two were carrots). They were all from the same producer. The price competitiveness was surprisingly bad. They had a big special on red grapes for $1.98 a lb. Whole Foods had nice holliday grapes on sale for $1.99 a lb. Generally, prices were the same as Kroger and HEB on most items. When there was a difference, it was maybe 10-12 cents less on a sale item. But, then there were a few items where Walmart was considerably more expensive. I say my favorite kitty litter was $2.00 more than Kroger and Target. Flouride mouthwash was almost a $1.00 more than Kroger. So, unless you are crazy price conscious, any little savings you get here and there at Walmart can be completely wiped out by items that are not priced competitively. Thus, the claim that Walmart helps out poor folk with their low prices is demonstrably false. Walmart doesn't do anything for poor folks except transfer the few bucks they have for essentials into profits for shareholders.

I guess if there is a silver lining, it may be that the traffic from the store isn't that bad (although I am sure it will surge at xmas) because it just wasn't needed for the area. But that is not much of a silver lining considering that 6 mil in tax dollars were wasted on this thing when the developer and Walmart could have paid their own way and considering that a mixed use development would have done so much more for the area.

[TGM]

I couldn't resist and went to the new Walmart on Sunday afternoon. My first impression was "where is everyone?" For a store that is located as centrally as any Walmart in Houston, the crowds were more like a Walmart way out in the burbs.

S3mh,

This could be the due to a phenomenon unknown to those inside RUDH. The lower classes gather to watch gladiators performing feats of strength in a steel coliseum. These mighty warriors attract a raucous crowd which paints itself with tradition pagan markings while consuming copious amounts of fermented refreshments. To the uninformed, it might appear that massive bloodshed is to occur, but somehow they are more concerned with moving a leather ball across a large green meadow. It's rather fascinating to observe the amusements of the masses. I believe you may have witnessed the impact that such a game had on the local community market.

Edited November 5, 2012 by TGM

[RedScare]

I couldn't resist and went to the new Walmart on Sunday afternoon. My first impression was "where is everyone?" For a store that is located as centrally as any Walmart in Houston, the crowds were more like a Walmart way out in the burbs. I got a rough count of 180-190 cars in the parking lot. (I went on to Whole Foods and got a rough count of 150-60 cars in the parking lot for a store that is a quarter of the size) I know it has only been open a short amount of time, but when the Waugh Dr. Whole Foods and Dunlavy HEB opened, you had to beat someone with a stick to get a parking space the first few weeks (I have not even tried going back to Trader Joes yet, though that is more an issue of a grossly inadequate parking lot). Sure, it is just anecdotal evidence and I will have to go back in a few weeks and compare, but I think my original observation that this Walmart was nothing more than a corporate power play to drain market share from Target and Kroger seems to be on the mark. With tepid crowds like that, Walmart will be operating the store at a loss for years given the extremely high cost of the land. But, when you are the largest retailer in the world your largesse gives you the ability to take a big loss at one store in order to try to beat back gains your competitor has made in the market.

As for the store, it is really a lesson in how little you can spend on fixtures and design in a store without confusing customers into thinking that they have walked into the warehouse. All the stacks have the exact same placard holders for price specials. There is almost no difference in design between any area of the consumer goods, except for electronics and clothes. It is just very bleak everywhere. Target feels like Neimans by comparison.

All the claims from Walmart that this would be some "unique new urban design" are just BS. It is a box filled with stuff for people to buy. Tall shelves everywhere. The claim that the store would have an expanded selection of organics was also BS. I counted 7 organic selections in all of the produce department (two were carrots). They were all from the same producer. The price competitiveness was surprisingly bad. They had a big special on red grapes for $1.98 a lb. Whole Foods had nice holliday grapes on sale for $1.99 a lb. Generally, prices were the same as Kroger and HEB on most items. When there was a difference, it was maybe 10-12 cents less on a sale item. But, then there were a few items where Walmart was considerably more expensive. I say my favorite kitty litter was $2.00 more than Kroger and Target. Flouride mouthwash was almost a $1.00 more than Kroger. So, unless you are crazy price conscious, any little savings you get here and there at Walmart can be completely wiped out by items that are not priced competitively. Thus, the claim that Walmart helps out poor folk with their low prices is demonstrably false. Walmart doesn't do anything for poor folks except transfer the few bucks they have for essentials into profits for shareholders.

I guess if there is a silver lining, it may be that the traffic from the store isn't that bad (although I am sure it will surge at xmas) because it just wasn't needed for the area. But that is not much of a silver lining considering that 6 mil in tax dollars were wasted on this thing when the developer and Walmart could have paid their own way and considering that a mixed use development would have done so much more for the area.

Translation: All that complaining was for naught.

The dissing of the design accoutrements of a big box store is hilarious. No one goes to Walmart for the architecture. Most of us do not go to Target, Kroger or Whole Foods for architectural flourishes, either. We go there to buy stuff. And, we understand that fancy architectural design features simply add to the costs of the items we buy. Maybe cat owners need things like that, but the rest of don't. As for low price/high price comparisons, welcome to American consumer shopping. Every store has loss leaders, except for Whole Foods, where every item is priced too high. Tell us something new.

On a side note, as I predicted, the shoppers at Party Kroger are smokin' hot. Since the grumpy Heights people stay away, this Kroger has quickly become my favorite for people watching. The staff is nicer, too.

Your posts are still hilarious, however. Keep it up.

[kylejack]

I don't know about architecture, but I definitely like the measures Montrose HEB took to integrate with the neighborhood. The landscaping is a nice touch, and I love the awesome bike rack.

[fwki]

I don't know about architecture, but I definitely like the measures Montrose HEB took to integrate with the neighborhood. The landscaping is a nice touch, and I love the awesome bike rack.

I like that HEB also, just wish it was closer. That store is in the heart of a long-time residential area, similar to our soon-to-be-gone Fiesta on Studewood, so at least it has something with which to integrate. On the other hand, Party Kay Roger has to integrate with existing industrial and Wally World has to integrate with endless townhomage (once and future ghetto), brownfield conversion retail and Fred Flintstone's job site.

[kylejack]

Are we really going with Party Kroger, I think it needs a better name, but anyway, it does have a bike rack. A lame bike rack in an out of the way place, but a bike rack nonetheless. No such luck at the Walmart.

[fwki]

Actually I forgot which name I liked from earlier posts. KJ, have you biked the Summer Street back route to the Kroger? Hike-Bike Trail to the Target parking lot (or go behind Target) and cut across to (soon to be extended) Summer St. and go west on the Summer St Right of Way.....you have to go through an open gate by new loft construction and across a lot and a little make shift bridge....Sounds bad, but it's rather easy and a lot safer than Stude.

[kylejack]

Coming from downtown I go Washington > Houston > Center > Oliver > Summer.

Edit: Oh I guess you're talking about going through David Addickes' back lot with the President heads. That gate might not always be open, but I did see it open the other day.

Edited November 5, 2012 by kylejack

[fwki]

David Addickes, that's the place...try that cut through....I understand that the CoH will extend Summer all the way, but they will have to condemn that RoW and the very back of a truck parking lot to link to the western part (across Oliver). If you are already on Oliver you will see the little makeshift bridge over the ditch on the east.

Edited November 5, 2012 by fwki

[RedScare]

I've never seen the gate open. I've always had to go down to Center to get through.

[samagon]

Much like s3mh I couldn't resist the draw of Walmart.

I can honestly say I hadn't driven down Yale since before construction began.

The entire feel of the area is transformed, from a desolate wasteland that seemed more to belong as a setting for Robocop 2 (filmed in Houston more than 2 decades ago), it now seems more in line with the area. As s3mh did, I went on Sunday (but it was Sunday night about 9pm so we didn't run into each other), there were maybe 40 cars in the parking lot.

It's a pretty standard Walmart inside. I was impressed by one of the features, one of my turn signal bulbs is out on my car (which is why I took the journey), I walked to the isle with all the car bulbs, rows upon rows, they had a little tablet thingy, I selected my year/make/model and it told me what item to purchase. I suppose I could have checked my owners manual before walking into the store, or whipped out my smartphone to find what I needed online, then choose the right one, but not everyone has these conveniences, and it was just as quick as any other way of verifying.

I feel the ingress and egress from the parking lot is much better than Target right up the street, getting out of the parking lot and onto the street you definitely have better vision around the corners than you do coming out of some of the exits from Target.

something that took me by surprise was as I walked out there was a hipster rolling around on his fixie with some mustache handle bars, no doubt he was scoping the place out to ensure anyone he might know wasn't there before finding somewhere to lock up and go inside.

[TGM]

something that took me by surprise was as I walked out there was a hipster rolling around on his fixie with some mustache handle bars, no doubt he was scoping the place out to ensure anyone he might know wasn't there before finding somewhere to lock up and go inside.

Well I'm not shopping there now that it's so uncool it's now cool. Can't imagine the sight of hipster beards at the community breakfast joint all ratted up with Great Value brand puffed rice cereal and bulk Silk milk.

[s3mh]

Translation: All that complaining was for naught.

The dissing of the design accoutrements of a big box store is hilarious. No one goes to Walmart for the architecture. Most of us do not go to Target, Kroger or Whole Foods for architectural flourishes, either. We go there to buy stuff. And, we understand that fancy architectural design features simply add to the costs of the items we buy. Maybe cat owners need things like that, but the rest of don't. As for low price/high price comparisons, welcome to American consumer shopping. Every store has loss leaders, except for Whole Foods, where every item is priced too high. Tell us something new.

On a side note, as I predicted, the shoppers at Party Kroger are smokin' hot. Since the grumpy Heights people stay away, this Kroger has quickly become my favorite for people watching. The staff is nicer, too.

Your posts are still hilarious, however. Keep it up.

The design wouldn't be an issue if Walmart hadn't come into the community claiming that this was some great new urban design prototype. They were the ones that put the design of the store into play, not me. And those claims were put out there in their PR campaign to help get the 380 agreement and support from politicians. The store is just a box with shelves and a phalanx of cash registers. And for what Walmart paid for the land, they could easily come up with a few extra bucks to make the interior something more than the usual box with shelves. HEB did it with their store in Motrose and their prices are more than competive with Walmart.

The complaining about traffic may have been for naught. The complaining about the 380 agreement should have been much louder considering how little the community is benefiting from this store that was not wanted and, judging by the lack of business, is not need, except to try to pull market share from other retailers. You may be so obsessed with your radical land use libretarianism that you cannot see how the City of Houston got played by the world's largest retailer for 6 million dollars. But, I am not blinded by right wing land use ideology.

[Firebird65]

The store is just a box with shelves and a phalanx of cash registers.

ROTF! Man, nothing slips by you. Red Scare is right. Your posts are freaking hilarious. You ever think of writing for a sitcom? You'd be a natural.

Edited November 5, 2012 by Firebird65

[fwki]

......But, I am not blinded by right wing land use ideology.

When one is blinded by narcissism, no other blindness matters....it's the best.