Wal-Mart Grants Stay of Execution for Local Businesses

OK, Port Angeles merchants — you have about 2-½ to 3 years to keep doing business before you'll start hearing that giant sucking sound pulling all of your customers away. The new Wal-Mart Supercenter is expected to be up and running sometime in 2010. Two years ago they were expecting to be open by 2007, so we’re getting a brief stay of execution.

Local merchants, environmentalists and a group called Wake Up Port Angeles are opposed to the new Wal-Mart Supercenter because of:

• The danger to salmon runs in Morse Creek;
  
  Well-paid jobs disappearing and being replaced by Wal-Mart jobs;
  
  Increased costs to taxpayers;
  
  Increased traffic on 101.

When/if the supercenter gets completed, there's a chance the City of Port Angeles might purchase the present Wal-Mart location and use it for an indoor soccer center or a swimming pool.