Sprawl-Busters fights the erosion of local businesses. In Rockville, Md., a wealthy suburb of Washington, D.C., Costco wants to build a store in one of the town's strip malls. The city government recently slammed on the brakes, slapping a six-month construction moratorium on the project. The owner of a Rockville gift shop, Irv Losman, says Costco might attract customers, but it could also spoil the strip's high-end character. Rockville's main shopping drag isn't the Champs-Elysees, but the municipal government says it has to draw the line somewhere.
Discount retailers say local resistance is, at worst, a nuisance.
It certainly would be easier if we didn't run into these community protests, and people welcomed us with open arms. Target is aiming for 70 new stores a year for the next decade. Home Depot plans to double its existing 800 stores by 2002. Discount retailers say success for them comes from giving consumers what they want. Quality, selection, value and convenience.