Some business owners in the rural town of Elizabeth are wary as a new Wal-Mart prepares to open its doors to customers next week.
Some shops are making sure their inventories are different enough that they won’t lose customers to Wal- Mart, which ranks No. 2 in the Fortune 500.
The Wal-Mart store manager said the move will stimulate Elizabeth’s economy.
Retailers in the town of 1,450 aren’t convinced.
“I think it will hurt the small businesses and cut their sales down some,” said Elsie Ore, a vendor at the Carriage Shoppes, where merchants sell antiques, home-decor items and jewelry.
“Although our store is very unique, Wal-Mart will carry jewelry, picture frames and candles too, so a lot of people will go and do their grocery shopping and pick up their small items there instead,” she said.
The new Wal-Mart, which encompasses more than 150,000 square feet on the west side of town, will open Wednesday. It will employ about 275 workers.
Roughly $14,000 in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation will be given to organizations such as the Elbert County Library District and the Elizabeth Fire Department.
Wal-Mart store manager Kevin Ray said local businesses need not fear.
“As far as any local concerns go, it’s going to keep more people in Elizabeth, so they’ll see an increase in traffic as well,” he said.
Some city officials say most of the Elizabeth shops are specialty stores, so the possibility of increased competition is slim.
“We’re hoping this will keep people shopping here so they won’t go to Parker or Castle Rock, and they’ll still come to our small specialty stores and do their buying locally,” said Beverly Durant, executive director for the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce.
And people in Elbert County won’t have to travel 30 to 50 miles anymore to shop at the nearest Wal-Mart, County Commissioner John Shipper said.
One local merchant said she doesn’t see the arrival of Wal-Mart as a positive.
“I don’t know that it’s going to help that much,” said Kristine Mudd, owner of the Jabberwocky toy store. “I’ve lived here 30 years, so I guess I’m not into the progress. But we have some loyal customers, and I try really hard not to carry the same things (Wal- Mart) does.”
Some store owners are more upbeat about Wal-Mart’s opening.
“I’m not afraid of Wal-Mart opening up,” said Mary Harris, owner of the Elizabeth Country Corner, which sells livestock feed and performs customized nutritional evaluation for ranchers’ animals.
“In fact, I told Wal-Mart’s store manager that when my customers get finished shopping at my store, they just might stop at Wal-Mart on their way out of town,” she said.
Sara Castellanos: 303-954-1381 or scastellanos@denverpost.com
