I just cannot agree with the comment that 'Dekalb is a thriving middle class area'. Anyone who has lived here for a while knows that is not true.

One thing that will happen with the Wal-mart expansion is that with the traffic that these stores bring there will also be other retailers opening close by. That is good.

At some point there is a Saturations phenomenon. Lots of Wal-marts. How many are too many? I do not know.

What there is a lack of are good small Hardware stores. Like the Ace that burned in Tucker. Put one of those on Memorial Drive.

Another issue/aspect is what is Dekalb County Government going to do to make Dekalb a good place do to business? It needs good and proper police and good and effective Code enforcement.

Stone Mountain also needs places that serve healthy foods. Walmart only sells fried foods and we need them to understand that they should have both options. They also should know that the homeowners in the area are very involved with their community and plan on keeping Walmarts on their toes. We are trying to bring about a healthy change for stone mountain.

The only problem with most areas is the apartment dwellers in most cases they don't own in the neighborhood so they have no attachment to the area. They don't have to worry about taxes, property values, or crime because if it gets bad they just move on. So it is the homeowners that are left to clean up the mess left behind. Georgia or Dekalb County should pass a law that there be no apartments built outside of the 285 perimeter. Within that perimeter they will have their own schools and businesses and the more involved they are with their community the better things will be. Mixing Homes and apartments do not work and when will the powers that be realize that. They also need to start evicting people once they are convicted of a crime when they start that people will keep a more watchful eye on there children or whomever they decide to let live in their house. Let the people that have a vested interest in the community create their own communities by a majority vote. I promise you will see a big change in communities.

JJ what in Sam Hill does apartments in Dekalb county have an iota do to with Wal-Mart?
Wal_Mart does offer very good rotisserie chicken and good cold salads. They usually have the best selection of in season fruits and at low prices. All deli meat is processed and contains preservatives and sodium. So? Don't buy it.
Wal_marts have low/no sodium snacks, gluten free stuff in the Baking ailse and lots of drinks inlcuding bottled water. Buy the healty stuff. The Deli in a Wal-mart is not manned by trained Chefs who specialize in 'health foods'. They are just people who work hard,(hopefully)

These three Walmarts are coming in the mostly black area...I need these stores to stay cleaned and stocked with the best items for the lowest prices as they are in the more upscale areas. Nothing like the Panola Road Walmart....I am so sorry, it's simply ghetto....

And conversely, when a Walmart leaves, so does every other retailer. Usually there is some fallout within the first 18 months of the Walmart arrival in the form of local merchant closings, so the important services that they provided won't be there in the event of a Walmart departure. The question should be; what will the effect of Walmart be if any one of the many many close? Let's hope none of them turn into the type of Walmart that is located on Farrington Rd. Personally, I don't think Walmart's business model presents the healthiest climate for a community that desires to increase it's credibility and desirability.

'Black area' what is that? A square on a chessboard?

Euro-americans who live in these areas. There may be some asian-americans too.

Squalor and unkemptness are signs of a mental and emotional imbalance and little or not self-respect.

Dekalb County surely is having a love affair with Walmart and I think it will harm the community in the long run. Too much of a good thing isn't good. I prefer local over big box retailers. If I go to a big box store I pick Target over Walmart hands down. Different clientele never been into a dirty or not well stocked Target in any neighborhood. Walmart on the other hand...I travel out of my way to go to Walmart if I go there at all. I go to the one on Scenic Highway. I've lived in this county (SMV) for 10 years and I've seen a major decline and from what I've been told Memorial Dive was wonderful in it's heyday. It's a ghost strip now. Maybe Walmart will bring some more business to the area, I fear it won't be the businesses I'd frequent. Thus I'm spending money in a different community not being able to support my own for a lack of desired variety of shopping experiences.

A community is only as good as its citizens. I have been in Dekalb co for more than 2 decades. I don't plan to leave. I am concerned that the wal-mart will put so much pressure on not so strong retailers causing them to close. Why so many? We need to make sure that we patronize retailers other than wal-mart. Cheaper isn't necessarily better.

Greetings All ... While I do patronize the eateries at Stonecrest, especially
Kampala, I actually prefer Senic Hwy. and the Internet when I shop. I find Stone-
crest a generally congested area. When I imagine a super Walmart adding to
the 'frenzy', it makes me sad. A grocery store would have gotten my vote.

As far as Walmart shutting down other businesses, unlikely... If you want a quality
garment, or specialty foods, you don't go to Walmart. If you need dog food or motor oil Walmart may be an option !

Bottom line, nitty gritty, it's WONDERFUL to have choices. !!!

LA fitness is opening soon on Covington Highway. This is a welcomed change to the community.

I began my career in "mass merchandising" in 1968, and was a supervisor of stores from Florida up to New Jersey. I have seen what Walmart does to every community it moves into and it is never a pretty picture. My teenage years were spent on Memorial Dr. and it was a vibrant area until the median killed the business activity. It will be a pleasant surprise if there is improvement in the area. However, the culture that causes me to be armed when I shop in the area makes me wonder what may happen.

I agree with cookie. If and when I do go to aa Walmart it has been rarely in my community, I also shop in other county due to bad shopping experience in and around Lithonia, where I live. We have enough Walmarts with in 20 miles over 4 counties to serves us here some being 15 minutes aparts. we could really use a different retail level out at Stone crest. For instance a bowling Alley, upscale night clubs, race cars,, amusement parks, upscale department stores, anything besides another Walmart, Family Dollar or Gas Station.

Dekalb county is a poor county because everyone takes their dollars to other counties to shop... If you don't want family dollar, dollar tree etc.., you have to stop shopping there. When they see they don't make money in our communities, they will stop opening their stores. It's supply and demand.

When having bad experiences or a store is not up to par, don't go to another county and bad mouth the store. Take control of your community and report the store that is not operating to your standards. Corporate likes to know what is going on. As long as we continue to let these stores and employees slack in the community, they will because they will feel that it is okay.