Wal-Mart to Lakeview: What Lease?

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 14, 2010 8:40PM

Wal-Mart executives reached out to 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney to ensure him that they have not signed a intent to lease space in the Broadway on Surf building for a smaller neighborhood box-store concept.

Tunney brought copies of the statement (actually, part of e-mail correspondence) between himself and Wal-Mart Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Maggie Sans to a meeting of South East Lakeview Neighbors last night to soothe the savage beast. Still, Sans provided enough wiggle room for future plans by Wal-Mart:

"The company is evaluating a number of potential opportunities across the city of Chicago, and will continue to work with elected officials, business groups, community associations and key stakeholders to ensure that sites and formats are compatible with the communities we seek to serve."

We read that to mean that Wal-Mart will open their stores in Chicago where they find the least resistance. Could this rigmarole been a case of bad reporting? Or could this have been a trial balloon floated to gauge resistance to having a Wal-Mart in specific neighborhoods?