While I am certainly not the world's biggest Walmart fan and would prefer seeing other grocery businesses in urban districts, look at some of the newer approved designs for Walmart's introduction to Washington, DC. Urban Walmarts are possible:

http://newurbandesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Urban-DC-Walmart.jpg

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/406211/thumbs/r-WALMART-FORT-TOTTEN-SQUARE-large570.jpg

The last one is in one of the least walkable areas of DC yet is very pedestrian centered.

http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201012/290856.jpg

I like it. In stead of trying to land a Nordstroms downtown I would much rather see an urban Walmart or Target.

Target maybe, but a downtown Walmart is aiming at the wrong demographic. And I don't want any more Bass Pro type parking lots downtown. You know that's what they would aim for.

Target maybe, but a downtown Walmart is aiming at the wrong demographic. And I don't want any more Bass Pro type parking lots downtown. You know that's what they would aim for.

I may be wrong, but every Target Store I've been to had a parking lot.

I may be wrong, but every Target Store I've been to had a parking lot.

The downtown store in Minneapolis which is their headquarters.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3FWD_Target_Downtown_Minneapolis_MN

Both Target and Walmart have some "urban stores", some have their own parking garage while others share a garage within a shopping development. In one of the Deep Duece proposal schemes that we did it was proposed to have a Walmart Neighborhood Market and Walgreens. At the time we were doing Walgreens stores in Oklahoma and the Northwest Arkansas office was doing some Walmart corporate work. Both had some interest in it, at least enough to be included in a proposal. The proposal from the Dallas developer was chosen.

The downtown store in Minneapolis which is their headquarters.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3FWD_Target_Downtown_Minneapolis_MN

Here's an urban wal-mart without a parking lot in White Plains NY with a parking garage occupying the floors above the store.

http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/5835.aspx

Here's an urban wal-mart without a parking lot in White Plains NY with a parking garage occupying the floors above the store.

http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/5835.aspx

Here's a pic of that White Plains store...

http://realitytimes.com/uploaded_images/wal_smart-793277.jpg

This is what Belle Isle should have got. To clarify, not the White Plain's, NY concept but the other urban minded ones.

I took a stroll by Big K-mart in downtown Philly and they didn't have a single parking space. Neither did the downtown Macy's.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4444040311_6058c61954.jpg

None of the Downtown Macy's I have seen have parking lots. That area of Downtown Philly is urban, but I remember it being very underwhelming, particularly along Market street which is an opportunity to have a wonderful connection from the gorgeous city hall and the Independence Park area. That was noticeable to me in comparison to the beautiful historic district and more specifically the Walnut street area southwest of City Hall. That said, I haven't been there in almost 2 years, but will be back this weekend to explore more.

None of the Downtown Macy's I have seen have parking lots. That area of Downtown Philly is urban, but I remember it being very underwhelming, particularly along Market street which is an opportunity to have a wonderful connection from the gorgeous city hall and the Independence Park area. That was noticeable to me in comparison to the beautiful historic district and more specifically the Walnut street area southwest of City Hall. That said, I haven't been there in almost 2 years, but will be back this weekend to explore more.

You are right about that part of downtown. It has definately seen better days. Talking with the locals I work with the hieght restrictions really started hurting downtown as companies starting building outside the urbanized area. When the City appoved Liberty One (the first building tall then City Hall) some were afraid the old part of downtown would suffer. Since then, all the new construction has been on the west side of downtown with lots of retail along Walnut and Chestnut SW of City Hall. I love walking throuh that area. I even did it in the rain one night.

To get people to move back downtown the City offered a 10 year moratorium on residential propoerty taxes in Center City. It worked because there is high rise every where.

In the cities mentioned, it's very possible to not own a car so the need for parking isn't as great. The flipside to that is how much and can you buy at Wal-Mart without a car. I lived in a truly urban city without a Wal-Mart or Target, but we had a Costco. The prices there were better than anywhere else in the city, but how the heck was I supposed to get a 24 pack of paper towels home? There is an urban Target coming their (San Francisco) but its offerings are especially geared towards urban needs. Target seems to be much more responsive to the needs of the urban environment more so than Wal-Mart. There had been efforts to bring one, but they always insisted on an ocean of parking.

The last one is in one of the least walkable areas of DC yet is very pedestrian centered.

http://images.greatergreaterwashington.org/images/201012/290856.jpg

That looks exactly like the Walmart in Glenpool

http://www.impressionsinstone.biz/impressions_in_stone008004.jpg

In the cities mentioned, it's very possible to not own a car so the need for parking isn't as great. The flipside to that is how much and can you buy at Wal-Mart without a car. I lived in a truly urban city without a Wal-Mart or Target, but we had a Costco. The prices there were better than anywhere else in the city, but how the heck was I supposed to get a 24 pack of paper towels home? There is an urban Target coming their (San Francisco) but its offerings are especially geared towards urban needs. Target seems to be much more responsive to the needs of the urban environment more so than Wal-Mart. There had been efforts to bring one, but they always insisted on an ocean of parking.

This is one of the mistakes I see a lot of urban retailers make. It is as if the merchandise guy lives in a suburb and drives a 20' SUV and only knows jumbo quantity products. An urban store should NOT be carrying a 24 pack of anything - not even gum. I went to the grocery store the other day to buy 2 carrots. Turns out I can't buy 2 carrots, I have to buy a package of 8. Urban stores need to gear their quantity size to urban customers. Who cares if the urban consumer can only by a 2-pack of paper towels - they live 100 feet from the store. They could walk over and buy them while their hands are still wet.

Retailers went to bigger packaging so they could shift warehousing cost to the homeowner.

... Turns out I can't buy 2 carrots, I have to buy a package of 8. ...

That's the trouble with urban life, never enough bunnies or horses around so food can get wasted. Not every building will have two waitresses with their own horse.

That's the trouble with urban life, never enough bunnies or horses around so food can get wasted. Not every building will have two waitresses with their own horse.

One of the advantages to living in an urban environment is easy access to restaurants which means fewer meals are prepared at home. If urban retailers try to sell bulk items to urban consumers than a lot of perishable items will go bad before they can be used. Bulk items also require the homeowner to store large amounts of goods which is problematic because most urban homes are space conscious. For urban dwellers the store IS the pantry, refrigerator, and closet.

As mentioned earlier, carrying home an SUV load of groceries by hand is not an option anyhow so stocking cases of coke, 32 oz jars of mayonnaise, and milk by the gallon is not good business. Sell coke by the 6 pack, mayonnaise in 4 oz jars, and milk by the quart or half gallon. Fresh fruits and vegetables should all be sold by weight and available one piece at a time.

I hope this is how the new downtown grocer operates. If not, we will probably be looking for a new downtown grocer sooner than hoped.

One of the advantages to living in an urban environment is easy access to restaurants which means fewer meals are prepared at home. If urban retailers try to sell bulk items to urban consumers than a lot of perishable items will go bad before they can be used. Bulk items also require the homeowner to store large amounts of goods which is problematic because most urban homes are space conscious. For urban dwellers the store IS the pantry, refrigerator, and closet.

As mentioned earlier, carrying home an SUV load of groceries by hand is not an option anyhow so stocking cases of coke, 32 oz jars of mayonnaise, and milk by the gallon is not good business. Sell coke by the 6 pack, mayonnaise in 4 oz jars, and milk by the quart or half gallon. Fresh fruits and vegetables should all be sold by weight and available one piece at a time.

I hope this is how the new downtown grocer operates. If not, we will probably be looking for a new downtown grocer sooner than hoped.

Agreed. I wasted more food living in a suburban area than living in an urban one. When you have to schlep your groceries, you tend to just buy what you need. It also made me healthier. I stopped buying things like 2-liter sodas just because I didn't want to carry it home. Living in a truly urban area is just a different lifestyle. It's not for everyone, but neither is the suburban or rural life.

Another possibility is offering home delivery. When I needed large amount of things for parties, holidays, etc. I ordered online from Safeway. It was an extra $5-$10 depending on time of day and if your order was +/- $100. They brought it right into your house. I never ordered fish or meat, but produce always came in great shape.

I visited the double-decker Wal-Mart/Sam's Club earlier this month located in Dallas at NW Hwy & Skillman. At the time Sam's Club was not officially open for business (about 8am on a Saturday morning). It is a good idea since large lots of land are hard to find in cities.