[Vision2020] HUGE Box for Stores

[Timothy Rigsby]

According to my employer, Home Depot is on its way.  They have leased land, possibly
even 40 acres or more, from UI that is situated behind WinCo.  The land in question
is outside of city limits, so county zoning allows for this to be built.  I have also
heard, through the grapevine, that Target is interested in the Tidyman's building.

Do I agree with UI leasing land to Home Depot? no way, however, people will come to 
realize that the service that they receive from some of these big box stores is in no
way comparable to the service they receive from locally owned independent stores.  The
people who work for JJ's, Moscow Building, and Tri-State will out-service all the box
store personel combined.  See what happens when you buy a lot of material from Home
Depot and save $2.50 and then go ask them how to install that material.  I doubt you 
will get any advice that is worthwhile.  Believe it or not, but Home Depot and WalMart
really are not that cheap when compared to JJ's, Moscow Building, or Tri-State.  Yes, a
few items are sold way below cost as loss leaders to lure people to shop there, but 
overall, when the project is done, the customer would have spent more money at Home 
Depot, they will have a headache talking to the person in the orange vest who has no 
clue that a 2x4 is not actually 2"x4".

I have written literally thousands of quotes for people that are planning decks, 
gazebos, retaining walls, sprinkler, etc. and have shown them that yeah, we are higher
on some parts, but overall, the bottom line is less.

Moscow is not the place for box stores but we will ultimately have to house some.  
People in this town generally will not shop at box stores if something is sold at a 
locally owned store anyway.  I went to the Moscow WalMart for the first time the other
month, I was not impressed.  That place is dirty, has narrow aisles, has poor lighting, 
and the staff is not very friendly or helpful.  I have never spent a dime at a WalMart
and if I can help it never will.  I doubt I will even step foot inside that place ever
again either.  Even if I have to make five stops to purchase my items, I will, 
especially if I know that the stores that I frequent are locally owned.  Why not keep
Moscow money circulating in Moscow and not sent to the South or some other corporate
building.