Small Town Warily Eyes Wal-Mart
Economics, politics and the persuasive clout of corporate America play key roles in “Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Came to Town,” an intriguing PBS documentary in which one pivotal meeting shaped the future of an entire community.
Written and directed by Micah X. Peled, this worthwhile program centers on the deep divisions in Ashland, Va., a small, idyllic town where the country’s largest retailer planned to open its latest mega-store with bold promises of increased employment and tax revenues.
“If Wal-Mart comes, I don’t think our community will ever be the same,” says one worried resident, who feared that the move would put local merchants out of business.
“I can’t think of any issue the town has ever faced that has stirred up as much emotion as this one,” says Rosanne Shallf, a longtime resident and local historian who serves as the film’s narrator.
On one side of the conflict, which progressed over the course of one year, are contented residents who want to protect the character of Ashland, the only town in America where Amtrak stops on Main Street. On the other side of the dispute are aggressive lawyers and officials representing Wal-Mart, the second largest employer in the U.S. after the federal government.
Supporters feel the store would result in lower prices and greater convenience, in spite of the fact that another Wal-Mart is just a few miles away in nearby Richmond, Va. Detractors say it will bring more noise and traffic.
How will the vote go at the Town Council meeting headed by Mayor Tom Herbert, who fails to win reelection shortly before that critical vote is taken? Peled keeps us guessing, then ends his documentary with an unsettling projection regarding Wal-Mart’s expansion plans three years from now.* “Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Came to Town” can be seen tonight at 8 on KCET. The program is rated TV-PG (may be unsuitable for children under 12).
