….Big Box Stores Are Bad
1. Often built in suburbia or the outskirts of towns where land is less expensive, big box stores such as Price Club and Costco suck the retail life out of downtown streets. Lured by cheaper prices and choice, choice and more choices, consumers flee smaller retailers - even those with great service for big box bargains. Meanwhile, once-lively downtown storefronts stand vacant or become home to cash-checking services and dollar stores.
2. Big box stores eat up vast expanses of real estate with buildings that have little to add architecturally while reflecting nothing of the community where they exist. If you took a quick look at a Home Depot store, you could be in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico or Portland, Maine, and not be able to tell the difference.
3. With huge parking lots, they encourage people to drive to get there. In fact, there is no other way to get there other than driving, which is not particularly green or eco-friendly.
4. They encourage - no, compel - people to overspend and buy things they don’t need. Who goes to Price Club without buying a trunk-load full of stuff such as a two gallon jug of pickles or 128 rolls of toilet paper.
More: There are instances - albeit far too rare - when local retailers go head to head with big box stores, and win. Case in point is Fireside True Value in Brattleboro, Vermont, a family-owned business that had to fight back when Home Depot opened across the street. With good customer service, competitive prices and hard-to-find products, Fireside True Value not only survived but watched as the Home Depot closed.
