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Comment by Dean Marshall on August 26, 2011 at 10:03am

I have to say I 100% agree with Kim. I live on the North side of Redlands and find the Stater Bros, or Rancho Market off Lugonia to be more than adequate for my grocery needs. In fact, Stater Bros. in specific always makes me glad I shop THERE and no where else. Their employees are always smiling, when you see them talking to one another you can tell they care and they give you a feeling you're more than just a "number". Now that they have placed a walgreens off Lugonia, I feel all the "basic family needs" are addressed without creating a need to travel far into Sbdo unless its for specific items.

 

The new mall area off Lugonia only adds to my satisfaction. I don't want or need a WalMart HERE, I don't mind going elsewhere for that, it gives me an excuse to go for a drive to "explore". I don't need a huge shopping complex here, the one we have is big enough to handle the 2-3 stores I'd wish for, and cabazon or Riverside isn't that far if I need more. 

Kim is correct about Walmart destroying other communities. They run the local businesses out, bleeding them dry, leaving empty vacant buildings for the cities to try to revamp, they bring in the "derelicts" from other cities, and create more traffic problems, smog, and noise issues than they are worth.  Even the "reveune" they generate for what I've heard from other cities isn't cracked up to warrant them being in Redlands.  Let them go somewhere else.  Part of Redlands appeal, is that it doesn't HAVE those types of chains here. It would ruin our "small town feel" and like Kim states, make us too GENERIC.  Unless the larger business could be seen to draw MORE business into our town, increasing the local business base or supporting our local airport, I do not see or understand a need for something "extra" when we currently have all the services we require.  Let's keep Redlands dollars into Redlands, and making sure we don't fall victim to the "status quo". 

Comment by Dean Marshall on July 6, 2011 at 7:53pm

I agree with Kim, we need to keep the "slow growth" Redlands is known for, and to support the local business and airport... We're family.

Comment by Kim Watkins on July 20, 2010 at 6:41pm

A grocery store would be fine! They should build one. Breaking the city code is the problem. Redlands was built to be what it is for a reason, by the people whose small businesses, property taxes and local taxes and generous contributions give us everything. You break one major law that defines Redlands, and Redlands is gone. Walmart is notorious for destroying small towns, and exploiting their employees and generating no tax income for the city. That's the problem. It is no secret. Walmart is an abomination, and if they can get anyone to support them, it's the desperate ones who will believe anything. The "south side" residents, as you refer to them, although many live on the north side too, are the ones who support Redlands. Why would you want to destroy what you depend on? Walmart will run away and abandon us all after they run the backbone of Redlands out of town. That's why. Do some hard research. Seriously. Then tell me how Super Walmart is good for Redlands. If you like living in a generic town, then Redlands isn't where you want to live. There are thousands of them around, and I'll bet you'll find a super walmart running them to hell. The city fights stores that want to break our city law. Up until now, we trusted Redlands not to sell out. It's not about where they are. The closer the better, if they weren't going to shut down our own neighbor's livelihoods by running their businesses clean under. Do you realize what you are assuming? You don't think that people who put their trust and life savings into setting up shop in Redlands, and buying or building their homes here because of the city laws that protected them against super stores, don't fear for their future? You're asking the people who contribute 100% to the existence of their city to just say, "Oh well?" I could go on, but it is not a secret. Even skimming the surface of the research and info available would support what I'm trying to say. It's not about what you imply it is. I didn't realize such indifference existed for the people of Redlands, and it's merchants and the praise they deserve, despite the city's poor financial decision-making, for such a fine, 130+ year-old town. Please prove me wrong. I would be soooo happy!