WalMart opens doors in Pullman

WalMart opened the doors on its 154,000-square foot supercenter in Pullman last Wednesday, Oct. 27, with a flurry of local citizens passing smiling greeters at the 8 a.m. grand opening.

“It was a great turn-out, that was exciting,” said Store Manager Kelly Allen. “We’re very excited to be a part of Pullman and of Whitman County.”

The rush of customers through the door last week marked the culmination of a tumultuous six-year development process.

Opening of the WalMart was appealed nearly to the top of the state’s court system by the Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development, better known as PARD.

PARD, after WalMart announced its intentions to build in Pullman, launched a petition campaign that in 2005 resulted with 7,000 people signing their intentions to boycott the store, if built.

PARD Director T.V. Reid said, though his group may have been overruled on the Supercenter’s construction, groups like PARD have helped change the way WalMart does business.

“WalMart has done a lot to become more conscious members of their communities,” said Reid. “I like to think it’s groups like ours that helped turn a light on how they were operating.”

PARD members, said Reid, still have concerns about the increased traffic from the store and its proximity to the Pullman Cemetery, which is across the street from WalMart’s back door.

He added he still has no plans to shop at WalMart.

For local governments, the new WalMart is seen as a potential boon to their coffers.

Pullman City Supervisor John Sherman said the city was told by WalMart to expect about $400,000 annually in tax revenue.

“That would be great, but we can’t budget for that in case it doesn’t pan out,” said Sherman.

Same for Whitman County, which will see 15 percent of the local sales tax revenue derived from the store. At WalMart’s estimate, that would be an extra $70,500 per year.

Treasurer Robert Lothspeich echoed Sherman’s caution over revenue projections, but did see the store as a major future contributor to the region’s economy.

“I think that they’re going to be an important sales tax contributor to the county,” said Lothspeich.

Shopko typically rates in the top ten of sales tax sources throughout the year. Lothspeich expects WalMart will top its sales.

Another factor WalMart may have on the local economy is retention of shopping dollars.

A 2006 economic impact study produced by WalMart showed $92 million of Whitman County’s shopping dollars were “leaking” into Moscow and Spokane businesses.

“I think it’s one of those things people want as an amenity to their area,” said Commmissioner Greg Partch. “If we can keep people shopping in the county, I think a lot of businesses around WalMart will benefit from the increased traffic.”

Partch added he has already noticed benefits from having the Palouse’s major shopping center on the west side of the stateline.

“We went to WalMart Saturday and, driving up and down the parking lot, I figured about a third of the license plates were from Idaho,” said Partch.

Moscow’s WalMart, a major retail attraction for Whitman County residents since it opened in 1993, went dark at 6 p.m. Oct. 26. Employees at the Moscow store were offered jobs at the new Pullman store.

WalMart has slated its Moscow store for a remodeling and expansion starting next summer. Plans for Moscow include addition of a grocery department, one of the features of the new Pullman store.