Walmart and IN-N-OUT To Open Stores at Azalea Project

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 03:35 pm

Walmart? Hell, no!

Virginia Johnson September 16, 2012 at 03:51 pm

I love free enterprise and am sure Walmart will bring in jobs and much needed commerce to South Gate. There are many truth's and lies about Walmart but South Gate can be overly rigid if it isn't Union. Everything already comes from overseas. What's the dif? I might have missed something at the groundbreaking but I also heard; a PETCO and an ANNA'S LINEN. There was more that Developer Arturo Sneider (Snyder?) mentioned and I felt he was saying Yes, these approx. 8 stores were coming in; rather than tentatively. Everyone was applauding anyway.
Just my 2 cents.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 04:26 pm

Oh, surely that isn't the Art Snyder I think it is. Folks who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Alejandro Lopez de Haro (Editor) September 16, 2012 at 04:27 pm

Thank you for your comments. So far we have only received confirmation on those two businesses. However, we have emailed the developer and will provide an update on the confirmed tenants list as soon as we are told.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 04:31 pm

Correction to "Hell, no" above. S/b "Walmart, Hell no, retired Union Member."

Virginia Johnson September 16, 2012 at 04:42 pm

Thank you Alejandro, I wasn't taking notes at the moment when Arturo sped through the names of retail and restaurants; and to Allen, Hmmm, do you have information on this Developer? I did hear the name of Shephard, Mullin and Smith, Inc. came up during proceedings at Council and at Groundbreaking which I faintly remember from 2001 during recall.
All in all, South Gate really needs this development and I hope it goes well.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 05:11 pm

Just wondering aloud if the party mentioned was former L. A. City Councilman and , I think, County Supervisor Art Snyder who I dimly recall had som legal, not to say criminal, issues while in office, and whom I haven't heard from for awhile. Also recall dimly he was mentioned as speaking Spanish. Maybe I'm mistaken; I'll check.

Virginia Johnson September 16, 2012 at 05:22 pm

I looked up Arturo's last name and it is spelled Sneider, so probably not same one. I think he has done many larger developments with S.G. being the biggest he says. Arturo the Developer did grow up in Mexico and speaks Spanish very well. Stay cool.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 05:39 pm

Well, that's a relief.

Joanna Miranda September 16, 2012 at 06:34 pm

Walmart in our new shopping center ?..maybe our only future shopping center
I have beang a resident of south gate for over 20 years , and Whem I sew the article in the La times about the azalea Project few years ago , I truly though that South gate resident were going to have better, nicer up to date shopping mall , So we were no longer go across the bridge and leave our hard earn money in the city of Downey or cerritos .. Wow .. we had waited so long to find out that our dollars can only afford such a low end stores like , Ana's Linnen and walmart????..we have the power of purchase to deserve better , after all has anybody check , the tax rate in S.gate ?.. please provide our city with better options and we will show you that we as community are willing to consume local to keep our taxes in our home city and please give us the chance to feel proud to be residents of south gate , a city that has much more and better to offers to future residents , them the old crapy business on tweedy boulevard and much more them taco stands liquors stores and cantinas ..

Gina Stone September 16, 2012 at 07:45 pm

I've been born and raised in South Gate, and I'm torn at the big box stores like WalMart coming to our little city. Yes, the tax base will be beneficial; however South Gate has already run all the big car dealerships out of town with the taxes and other political moves that make it a "non business friendly" place. South Gate has always prospered on the Mom and Pop businesses along Tweedy and Firestone - seems a shame that these people will now suffer because a Major Retailer moves in next door. We've already seen it with All American and Home Depot. I honestly don't think the road infrastructure on Firestone and Atlantic can handle a huge increase in traffic. Used to be we could "get across the bridge" in about 20 minutes.. Traffic on Firestone is already a nightmare, now it is just going to get worse.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 08:33 pm

Hear, Hear!

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 08:39 pm

Minor correction: that's "crappy".

Manuel Avila Jr September 16, 2012 at 09:07 pm

I was there at the groundbreaking ceremony. I also heard the announcement of a Ross, Jamba Juice, Subway, and a Panda Express along with the already mentioned In 'n' Out, Anna's Linen, Petco, and Wal-mart. Where is Best Buy, other major tenants and the nice dine in
restaurants? I know we are still waiting for confirmations, so maybe the announcements on tenents should have waited until it was known for sure.

Allen C. Treen September 16, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Geez, I don't know; maybe those other nice places you mention aren't clients of the developer.

Jaime Garcia September 17, 2012 at 01:36 am

I think we have to step back for a moment, when commenting on the stores not coming to the Azalea project, as Gina mentioned earlier. We have to consider that its not always the case the businesses will automatically come to SG or similar areas. As mentioned in one council meeting, Khols was asked to consider our city as a viable location, and there response was something to the effect of "our community does not fit their target demographic", according to staff that day. I would love to have a Lucille's barbecue for example come to South Gate, as Gina does, but it may not be up to the developer or the City of South Gate, maybe these businesses do not want to come here... the proper steps would be to ask the question, and get their feedback, whether its wrong or right, its their perception... than the solution would be to change that perception or bias, and show that SG is a great area to invest in. We have to ask the tough questions and be prepared to hear something we may not like, be it true or not... and work to change that perception, through our efforts and support. Great example is Starbucks, and how they took a chance in our community, and are reaping benefits from it.

Virginia Johnson September 17, 2012 at 08:02 pm

This is such a hot issue but the reality is, that MANY popular stores likeTrader Joes charge exorbitant amounts to Cities just to come into our neighborhoods. Not just our Southeast Cities but others too. We had a few markets in South Gate 30 years ago that sold high end goods but they had to stop because there was no demand and the products were decaying and going out of date rapidly. The quality cheese issue was only about 10 years ago but no one wanted quality cheeses so the Markets stopped carrying them. Not enough people who want or can pay the high prices for high quality items. I also see this decline in Downey, Lakewood and Bellflower. As to the new store proposals in S.G., I really like Anna's linen, Petco and THANK YOU Mr. Avila for listening at the Groundbreaking I missed those others you mentioned. These are all good stores that for now I go to other Cities for.

Allen C. Treen September 17, 2012 at 08:22 pm

Okay, evertybody who wants to pay these Mandarins for the privilege of doing business with them form a line..;..

Virginia Johnson September 17, 2012 at 08:30 pm

I didn't know Trader Joes was Mandarin.

Allen C. Treen September 17, 2012 at 10:21 pm

Term refers to an inscrutable, reclusive rich nobility, usually derisive.

Cynthia December 6, 2012 at 05:00 pm

Hi Gina, South Gate DID NOT run out the car dealerships And South Gate has not prospered on the Mom and Pop store along Tweedy in over 20 years, The big companys like Koos and other have kept South Gate alive. And because of the unfriendly business practices in California, they have left. And All America closed because the owner died, and his children did not want to continue with the business. Gina you might want to attend the City Council Meeting on Tues. @7. So more misinformation is not spead

Virginia Johnson December 6, 2012 at 07:32 pm

Our S.G. Councilmembers and staff have been reaching out to almost every imaginable retail store including Best Buy, to come to South Gate for the past 10 years but there are hardly any takers. It is hard for many people to believe but Walmart does pay $8 TO $14 an hour and up, along with health insurance, profit sharing and paid vacations. Why aren't people boycotting IKEA? Multiple studies show that Walmart's help the surrounding businesses. We almost had a Fresh and Easy but they didn't want to come to South Gate either and now they are going out of business. Until we can get a store to come in good faith, we cannot build the good reputation we had before Convicted Felon Albert Robles stole 24 million$ from us in 2002. Start small and they will come...and why in the world would we want 50 used car dealers in South Gate anyway?? People really do need to start going to City Council.

SGDUDE January 13, 2013 at 02:15 am

I believe the reason Kohl's responded like that is because of statements on blog sites like this that say "Let's keep the Patch Latino." What??? Why make a divisive statement like that? It only sounds like we want non hispanics excluded. What would you think if a site said "let's keep our blogsite white."?? Let's not repay evil for evil (the racism that ruled yester year). Let's embrace American values and be inclusive to all cultures here in SG. Then maybe stores like Kohl's would feel welcomed.

SGDUDE January 13, 2013 at 02:19 am

I agree with you. TGI Friday, Cheesecake Factory and IKEA would be great here. They would attract peeps from other cities.

Claudia February 5, 2013 at 08:48 pm

Wow, a lot of insight from both the article and comments... sounds like a Walmart will be coming to our community... such sad, sad news!

South gate Resident March 26, 2013 at 12:18 pm

First of all, the city of South Gate needs to lower its tax rate. If this does not happen then people will begin to question purchasing and spending their hard earned money in South Gate when neighboring cities have lower tax rates and other optional attractable retailers. South Gate needs to compete with the likes of Downey, Cerritos etc. Why not try to bring in retailers that those cities are lacking? This will in part begin to move traffic from the Firestone bridge in the opposite direction. I for one am guilty of spending my money elsewhere.

Virginia Johnson March 26, 2013 at 02:26 pm

All the Cities, State and Counties are jumping on the higher tax bandwagon so we will not be alone. We also do not have the exorbitant Utility Taxes that nearly all of our South East Cities have. That doesn't help our Retail but more people should want to move here because of it. I certainly don't want Firestone Azalea to put in the Ho Hum stores like the Lynwood Plaza at Imperial but don't know what Cerritos doesn't have that we could profit on and I surely don't want another overpriced Starbucks.

Adrian Ferguson April 27, 2013 at 10:23 pm

Will i love south gate but, i live in compton so for me no matter what they build over there. Im for sure will be going more often. And not only that but lots of work for people in the construction industry, like me and for people that love to work in retail so that is great. South Gate is a great place so it will be now the best place to shop two thumps up.

Virginia Johnson April 28, 2013 at 03:19 pm

Keep your eyes on the 2nd and 4th S.G. Agendas www.cityofsouthgate.org (top left next to jobs click on Agendas and follow links) so you can find out when Azalea Developers will be having another presentation on what is going in, when and Job information. You can always go to the S.G.Web Site 2 weeks later and read the minutes. We in South Gate are also looking forward to all the possibilities.

Allen C. Treen April 28, 2013 at 05:55 pm

Second the two thumps up!