New Blog: Always Low Prices--Always.

Always Low Prices--Always.: (a blog devoted to "the best and worst about Wal-mart")

I think in many ways the jury is still out on the ability of the Big Boxes (Walmart, Target, Home Depot) to adapt and function in a high quality, decent, and humane built environment.

I spend a great deal of my time watching institutions that do business locally, including everything from the locally owned coffee shop to the big boxes, and trying to determine their evolution and their likely future in a changing environment.

Over the past fifty years I watched in dismay as the corner commercial life evaporated in Atlanta's intown neighborhoods, and I took a second big hit when downtown lost its primary position as a shopping area, then lost all its major department stores.

The move toward mixed use development in the city is bringing large scale retail back to us, and the players in the large scale retail world are the big boxes.

The largest, and so far least adaptable of the big box retailers in terms of the need for a pedestrian friendly urban environment, is Walmart. Because of their leading position they come under much more scrutiny than the others.

For those of you who can't get enough Walmart news, a blog called Always Low Prices--Always. has been created which is sure to satisfy your craving for news on the retail Goliath.