The country’s biggest retailer meets one of Virginia’s biggest college campuses — Walmart on Campus, a new pilot program, is coming soon to VCU’s very own West Grace Street. Walmart signed a lease with the VCU Real Estate foundation in late 2014 to open a store in early 2015.
The store will be a 4,100 square foot version of the regular Walmart stores and will offer many convenient options, like a pharmacy. This new store will be located at 912 W. Grace St., just minutes from the heart of campus. The building, already under contruction, will also house VCU offices and classrooms.
The announcement of the arrival of Walmart on Campus caused controversy among students who believe that VCU’s gentrification of Richmond will negatively effect the local businesses and tradition of the city. While some rejoice at the idea of Walmart on Campus coming to campus, others think it is a threat to the local businesses that are so essential to Richmond.
Gentrification is a shift in an urban community toward more affluent residents or wealthy, large-scale businesses, such as Walmart. Gentrfication is often due to grand-scale real estate development, or by government or community organizations who wish to expand the city. Many believe that the gentrification of downtown Richmond, which has been seen on a grand-scale in the last 20 years, is due to the expansion of VCU, both in physical property and number of students. Walmart on Campus coming to VCU is an example of a big business establishing themselves in urban communities. As a city noteable for the success of local businesses, many students are concerned about how the new store will effect the competitors.
“I’m upset that it’s coming,” said VCU junior Amanda Hurley. “No one can compete with Walmart’s low prices and I’m afraid it will force some local businesses to close.”
Hurley is a member of a Facebook group called “No Walmart on Grace Street!” which has reached 630 members. The Facebook group discusess the various reasons why Walmart on Campus coming to VCU might be detrimental to the community, such as monopolizing the industry, producing products not made in the United States and the low pay of the employees and workers producing the goods.
“While it is refreshing to have a super cheap option, it’s important to think about how and why Walmart can make their prices so low,” Hurley said. “Somewhere along the way, someone isn’t getting paid nearly enough for their work.”
Hurley, along with other students, plan to boycott the Walmart on Campus altogether in order to show their support for local businesses on West Grace Street.
“I don’t plan to shop there,” said Hurley. “However I’m sure I’ll end up there every now and then because it will be so close to my apartment, which is also disappointing. I love Grace Street and now it feels like VCU and Walmart are going to take over and push out all the small businesses.”
The store will be Walmart on Campus’s fifth store, with other stores at universities across the country such as University of Arkansas, Arizona State, Georgia Tech and University of Missouri. The store will feature basic necessities like food, school supplies and personal items.
While some think the Walmart on Campus will knock out competition from other local businesses, others have a more positive outlook on the store.
Hannah Sellers, an HC Campus Correspondent at the University of Arkansas which already has a Walmart on Campus, said their store is beneficial to campus.
“Walmart on Campus is really great because students don’t have to travel off campus for, say, milk or soap or other basic necessities,” said Sellers. “It’s just a really small version of Walmart that has basic things students living on campus need.”
VCU freshman Renee Mercier is looking forward to the convenience and low prices the new Walmart on Campus will bring.
“I think it’s great that it’s going to be close to campus,” said Mercier. “And I think students and everyone are going to benefit from a Walmart because Walmart has so much to offer for such a low price.”