Comment Roundup: Wal-Mart Work Begins

East Brunswick Patch readers had a lot to say about construction commencing on the site of the new Wal-Mart location on Route 18.

Last week, construction crews could be seen working at the Golden Triangle , tearing down what was left of the former Route 18 flea market.

The renovation of the site will also include the construction of a 400-unit apartment complex.

We selected some comments from readers from last week's post asking what they think about this development and included them here. Take a look:

• "Many businesses will see a Wal Mart as a plus when deciding if they want to set up shop in the neighborhood. It's a selling point to say that a shopping area is Wal Mart anchored. Wal Mart doesn't bother me as much as the ghetto-ish look of 18 north of Tices." - "Dan F."
• "Well we be looking for new encore store (where Kmart stands now) once Walmart puts Kmart out of business. I give Kmart no more then 1 year from the date Walmart opens." - "Mark from EB"
• When I drive up Route 18, it is heart-breaking to see all the vacant stores, poor condition of many of the roads, etc. What I also find disappointing is the lack of nice restaurants in a township of its size. Plenty of chains, but very little unique places, family owned and run places - places with good food and attractive atmosphere. Instead of a Walmart, it seems to me that a "town square" type of place with a variety of restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating would have added a much-needed attractive dimension to my old hometown." - "Miriam Simon Cotter" 
• "Thank goodness this project is underway. I mean who DOESN'T want to live on top of a walmart, next to a HUGE garbage dump and on a road that is bumper to bumper 24/7. I'm sure it will be difficult to get a spot there i'm sure." - "Dan C"
• "I'm personally disappointed by the Wal-Mart project. I would never shop in a Wal-Mart, simply because they sell a lot of crap and attract a weird element. If I want value in a place where normal people tend to shop, I'll take a ride to Milltown and go to Target. All that said, there are Wal-Marts all over NJ, even in nice areas like Princeton. The world is not going to end because Wal-Mart comes to town. I do agree that Wal-Mart will drive other places out of business, like K-Mart, and maybe even places like Pathmark and Shoppers World. But I rarely see people shopping in these places now anyway. And that K-Mart is such an abominable eye sore that I hope to god they just knock it down. Also remember that change comes more in the form of a wave than a straight line. It's clear that East Brunswick has suffered a significant decline since I last lived here, but I do feel like it's coming back, and will continue to come back, albeit slowly. And I think everyone needs to relax over places like Hooters and the Tilted Kilt coming to town. It's 2013, not 1983. We live in a far less conservative world now. These types of establishments are harmless. If you don't like them, simply don't patronize them." - "Christopher"

Did you miss the conversation? Post a comment below about what you think of a Wal-Mart coming to town. What do you think it will do to the Route 18 retail corridor?

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