A Walmart in Monroe? Readers Sound Off on Facebook

Walmart conjures up strong emotions, from admiration for it's success as the world's largest retailer to anger over the treatment of its employees. Many believe the big box store Kimball Land Holdings LLC is proposing for 2 Victoria Drive in Monroe — without releasing the name — is a Walmart.

Monroe Patch asked visitors to its Facebook page how they would feel about a Walmart coming to Monroe and the post garnered more than 35 responses, most with "likes" supporting it, and was viewed by 1,512 people.

Responses ranged from strong support to accusations of "wage slavery". To read all of them, visit the post on Monroe Patch's Facebook page.

The following are a few of the comments:

Sallie Des Biens: Terrible idea. I would hope the townspeople would vote against it.

Jane Card Horton: I welcome it! I love Walmart and we need the tax base. Our neighbors are growing their businesses and Monroe isn't. Why on earth would anyone vote against it? It's even on the edge of our town. Monroe needs to be progressive...we aren't a sleepy cow town anymore.

Kristen Edgar: Welcome!!

Marc Covey: Explain how Walmart would benefit our tax base. Wouldn't a more upscale retail store like an REI, Cabelas or Whole Foods rather than a cut rate, employee gouging company like Walmart? I can't think of a worse store to bring in. How will that help grow the business economy in Monroe? That is going to drive out every small box store and keep any local businesses from ever considering our town. So we will become just the next suburb of another Walmart. I'm not interested in selling our town to Walmart. And hopefully I'm not the only one.

Al Cascella: Say goodby to all small mom and pop stores and even Walgreens, cvs, rite aid and maybe even big y

Peter Conway: Walmart will end up hurting your tax base. Believe me, when the competition is gone the prices will go back up.

Carrie Bonin: Invite Walmart in and watch how many small local businesses get put out of business. Crap from China with proceeds going to headquarters in Arkansas, great way to grow Monroe.

Kristy McElveen: I love the idea of a Walmart coming to town. Why pay more for the SAME product at other stores or grocery stores? I don't have money to burn, sorry.

Lani M. Dingman Siciliano: I welcome a Walmart. Everyone keeps mentioning other specialty stores that do NOTHING to help us actually be able to 'shop local.' I can't buy the things my family actually NEEDS in town. A large growing family doesn't have money to burn.. especially with our taxes increasing every single year. Never mind that those specialty stores are NOT asking to come here. If Walmart doesn't open here, they will probably just move down the road to Trumbull who will welcome them, we will still have the traffic and get no benefit. I am doubtful that more than a few stores in town would close as a result either, since much of what Walmart offers is not available in town.