by phil dzikiy

dzikiyp@gnnewspaper.com

When Wal-Mart announced their official interest in North Tonawanda last week, rumors became concrete and concerns became genuine.

The proposed Wal-Mart would be an 186,000 square foot supercenter, including a grocery store, pharmacy and optical center. The store would be open for 24 hours.

No plans have been formally submitted to the North Tonawanda Planning Commission regarding the Wal-Mart.

Though the mega chain is already facing opposition from some local residents, Wal-Mart has at least one key city official on their side: North Tonawanda Mayor Larry Soos.

The city will benefit from sales tax and property tax revenue from the business, Soos said.

Most city residents are on Soos’ side, he said. The mayor’s office has received many letters regarding Wal-Mart, and the positive letters outweigh the negative letters eight to one, he said.

“The only people who should be concerned about immediate effects are Kingston Avenue residents,” Soos said.

A public hearing for city residents is planned for later this month, but Kingston Avenue residents met last week with an approval firm representing Wal-Mart.

Some of those residents have accused the mayor of siding with Wal-Mart over themselves. At last week’s meeting, resident Walter Gordon accused Soos of being against the people.

Kingston Avenue resident Helen Sattelberg echoed Gordon’s sentiments. Sattelberg lives in the last house at the end of Kingston Avenue. The Wal-Mart parking lot could border her property.

“I’ve never heard of a mayor who was so pro Wal-Mart, ignoring residents without any concern,” Sattelberg said.

Soos did know about the development before information was released to the public, but he couldn’t say anything, or the developers would lose interest, he said.

“It isn’t like we’re trying to hide anything from the people,” Soos said. “I’m trying to look out for everybody, that’s my job.”

Soos isn’t looking out for local business, such as Budwey’s Supermarket, Sattelberg said.

Frank Budwey, owner of Budwey’s Supermarket on Division Street, understands there is a need for Wal-Mart in the city, but he has many concerns, he said. Budwey’s has been in North Tonawanda for more than 80 years.

“It could put the hurt on a lot of small local businesses,” Budwey said. “And everywhere they go, they knock out supermarkets. Is it worth it for the harm they’re going to do?”

Budwey hopes his supermarket can survive by relying on better service, meats and produce, he said. But with his store, the Tops on Meadow Drive and the proposed Wal-Mart being so close to each other, something will have to give.

“There’s not enough business to support three supermarkets,” Budwey said.

Budwey is worried his store could go out of business, and if his store goes under, the whole plaza could shut down, he said.

The Meadow Drive Tops didn’t hurt Budwey’s, and Budwey’s will survive, Soos said. Budwey’s has the best meat department in Western New York, and though the supermarket might feel the Wal-Mart in the short-term, customers will return, he said.

“I don’t understand how we’re going to hurt business,” Soos said. “Our businesses already have major competition.”

A Wal-Mart will bring other large chains into the area as well, further compounding traffic problems, Sattelberg said.

“Whenever you see a Wal-Mart, you see a Home Depot or a Sam’s Club,” Sattelberg said.

The new Wal-Mart’s designs are inspired by local architecture, such as the Wurlitzer building, Soos said. The chain wants to fit into the community, he said.

It’s just a song-and-dance routine from a big corporation and Soos, Sattelberg said.

“I don’t buy it,” she said. “I don’t care what the building looks like. If the mayor wants to swap residences with me, I’ll gladly switch. He can be here with his pet project. Get the moving vans.”

Contact Phil Dzikiyat 693-1000, Ext. 114.