DeKalb.Talk

By Heywood

February 14, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

I wouldn’t say Walmart is ideal, by any means. However, as a resident of the area, I will take a Walmart over an eyesore of an abandoned shopping mall. Hopefully, Walmart and its low prices will help to put all of those nasty, crime-ridden convenience stores up and down memorial out of business, and it will help the gentrification process along in that area.

By Allen (for real)

February 14, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this

Yeah, WalMart is definitely the lesser of two evils here. Yay

What a coup for the county and our commissioners

By nard

February 15, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

yes, remembering the area before the mad exodus in the 80’s, hopefully it will be the start of revitalization for the area.

By d

February 15, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

I think its great. Finally something that has staying power in that area and more jobs. Teenagers can walk to work. It will definatly change the area and wake it up.

By Sarah

February 19, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

Bring walmart in this area is an excellent awesome idea. Memorial drive still needs more attraction such as restaurants like the ones in gwinett and cobb counties. I don’t understand why this area doesn’t have nice shopping and eatery like gwinett and cobb counties? Just because this area is mostly minorities doesn’t mean to keep nice things away. There are a lot of things I would like to see on memorial drive. When it comes to shopping or nice dinning one has to go gwinett or cobb county. To keep money in Dekalb county, nicer things must be established.

By Richard

February 19, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

Yes, having Wal-Mart there is better than what exist. However, as citizen of Dekalb County we must fight to stop crime and demand that good service is provided in Dekalb County. Also, we must maintain our neighborhood.

By ClayH

February 19, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

Yes, I think it will be good for China and Wal-Mart to use Avondale mall, it will also keep Grady busy with all Wal-Mart’s new employees that don’t have healthcare coverage.

Bravo, America! Bravo!

By Anita

February 19, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

If the residents of Dekalb County would pick up their trash and treat each other with respect on the streets people would not be afraid to bring their businesses to us. Let’s all make an extra effort to be attractive enough that activities will come TO us instead of us going TO them.

I hope Wal-Mart demands courtesy and cleanliness from their staff and stocks organic foods. I will certainly frequent their business and be delighted to watch my stock grow!

By JayInAtlanta

February 19, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this

As an Avondale resident, I am getting more and more unhappy about WalMart coming here. At first the lot was for true mixed-use, to get some good housing and shopping here. Then it was only a 100,000 sq. ft. WalMart center with condos, now it’s nearly twice that size of a center. Where does that leave the housing or any type of mixed use? This is even without considering the fact that the area can’t handle the traffic, and my personal feelings about the working conditions at WalMart. I miss the old mall, but unlike what other people have said in posts, I think WalMart’s lack of consideration for most of the Avondale residents’ constructive feedback is fast making them the worst of ALL evils. My family has lived in Avondale for multiple generations, and I am now realizing that this might turn out to be the worst mistake I’ve ever seen here.

By S. Savon

February 19, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

It will bring much needed revenue to the area. I, for one, do not venture to that area at all; But if Walmart is there it will be closer than Hway 78 and I would go there. The only thing that would deter me would be if the parking lot area is not properly surveillanced either by County police or private officers.

By M. Stone

February 19, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

This will be another chance for the Avondale area to come alive again. I’ve lived in the area for several years. And I’m happy to see Wal-mart come. And hope that other businesses will come. I’m concerned about the crime in the area. More resident involement is needed and team up with Avondale and Dekalb police that this area can transform into the area’s like Cobb, Gwinett and Alphareta.

By Herman

February 19, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

If parents in the area find something for their kids to do after school other than hang out at the store entrance it might survive.

By Stone Mountain Man

February 19, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

To JayInAtlanta and other Avondale residents who decry the arrival of WalMart in the old Avondale Mall property: You’re getting what you deserve. You had your chance to exercise some degree of control over what is ultimately constructed and to reap some additional tax revenue as well, but you voted against annexation of the property into the city limit, as WalMart requested. You obviously suffered a severe case of the Ostrich syndrome, with you head in the sand or some other place where the sun doesn’t shine. Surely you didn’t think WalMart would go away just because of your negative vote. So, my advice to you is to quit your b*** and learn to live with it. Personally, I welcome them with open arms. Anything is a vast improvement over what has existed there for the past few years.

By itsme

February 19, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

I don’t know much about the plan, but I certainly hope the Crowley cemetery in the parking lot will be preserved.

By Mark

February 20, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

Sorry, JayInAtlanta. Avondale Estates blew this one. WalMart was willing to work with you all, but you chose not to work with them. Too bad, so sad.

By Pat

February 20, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

Yes It needs to be something there people that did not want it to be there did nothing to improve it so Yes I say walmart is welcome

By Shell

February 20, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

To Sarah: Memorial Drive once had nice shopping and restrauants. When they put the median down, everything closed, moved out, or now exists on Hwy 78. My family moved in the Decatur/Avondale area in the late 70’s, early 80’s. And there was Davidson/Macy’s; Rich’s at Beleverdere, all kinds of eating spots Po Folks; Ponderosa; Red Lobster; many “family” types of places: there was even a Chucky cheese type of places; now nothing. I love Walmart; I just hope they beef up security there and keep the criminals.