Wal-Mart in Chinatown Would Generate Foot Traffic, Supporters Say

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Ever since Wal-Mart announced its plan to move into Chinatown this summer, many residents, small business owners and city officials have voiced strong opinions against it.

But today, community members and business owners gathered in support of the corporate giant's proposed move.

They say Wal-Mart will help residents as well as small mom-and-pop shops, while opponents maintain it will drive them out of business.

"If anyone has been into Chinatown lately or recently or within the last couple of years, you've seen that the amount of visitors coming in Chinatown has dropped dramatically,” said Nicki Ung, executive director at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. “It's not as vibrant as it used to be from many years ago, and having a Wal-Mart would increase more visitors into Chinatown."

However, Bing Wong, a long-time employee at Chinatown’s BJ Market, is worried the increased foot traffic would exacerbate the area’s parking situation.

"No good for us business because now in Chinatown there's a lot more people, the parking is very little, so it's difficult for us businesses,” Wong said.

Chinatown currently has two full-service grocery stores in addition to 15 to 20 neighborhood markets like Wong's BJ Market.

"If Wal-Mart comes in [and] undercuts them by having cut rate wages and cut rate prices just to drive them out of business, we’ll see a loss of a lot of important institutions in Chinatown,” said James Elmendorf, deputy director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.

This Friday, Los Angeles City Council members will vote on a proposal that would block chain businesses like Wal-Mart from opening in Chinatown.