NYC Wal-Mart a No Go
NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart won't be taking a bite out of the Big Apple -- at least for now. New York City officials said yesterday that Vornado Realty Trust, the real estate developer that had been in discussions with Wal-Mart, is scrapping plans to build the retail giant's first store in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens.
Since Wal-Mart revealed plans to build, intense opposition has built up against the project from both residents and unions, suggesting that New York City isn't ready for the Bentonville behemoth.
Union leaders opposed to the plan have cited a list of labor offenses, from a recent settlement involving allegations that Wal-Mart violated child labor laws to the company's decision to close a Quebec store when it was poised to become the first one in Canada to unionize.
A Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. spokeswoman told local press that the company had never signed a deal with Vornado for the 132,000-square-foot space. She said Wal-Mart was still interested in exploring other locations in the city.
Since Wal-Mart revealed plans to build, intense opposition has built up against the project from both residents and unions, suggesting that New York City isn't ready for the Bentonville behemoth.
Union leaders opposed to the plan have cited a list of labor offenses, from a recent settlement involving allegations that Wal-Mart violated child labor laws to the company's decision to close a Quebec store when it was poised to become the first one in Canada to unionize.
A Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. spokeswoman told local press that the company had never signed a deal with Vornado for the 132,000-square-foot space. She said Wal-Mart was still interested in exploring other locations in the city.