Los Angeles County - News from July 17, 1995

Wal-Mart’s Optimism: At least someone has rosy reflections on the California economy. On Tuesday, Don Soderquist, vice chairman and chief operating officer of the giant Wal-Mart discount chain, will speak to Town Hall Los Angeles about retailing in the 21st Century. A spokesman said Soderquist plans to note that the company is “very economically optimistic” about the California market. Wal-Mart didn’t open its first store in California until 1990, but now has 79 here. Success in California is key to reaching its target of $100 billion in sales by 2000. It managed $67.3 billion in 1994. Rather than voicing concern about the effect of the loss of thousands of California military and aerospace jobs on retailers like Wal-Mart, Soderquist will say that the retailing industry can help replace some of those jobs. The speech is planned for noon at the Sheraton Grande in downtown L.A. For information, call (213) 628-8141.