You know, Sarah, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this very thing lately. After looking at what the Market went through when Dave’s went in right across the street, and at the fact that the Market is still going strong, I’m not so sure Wal*Mart is going to damage the Market’s business that much at all.

Why? Simple: the basic formula for whipping Wal*Mart in your own backyard is to offer other things, better service — at a fair price. The Market does all of this, and more. I know so many of the vendors there: they know what I eat and how I like to cook; I know a lot about what they eat and how they cook. They call me by name. They ask how my wife is — and call her by name, even when she is not with me, and even though they have only met her a couple of times now. And to top it off, you can’t beat the Market’s quality.

The folks Wal*Mart is going to hurt are the ones that throw their hands up in the air with the attitude that they are getting beat (without even trying) and roll up their carpets — and then blame the whole mess on Wal*Mart.

Honestly, I don’t think we can stop Wal*Mart from going in to Steelyard Commons; I think we have to beat them the only way we can: with friendly, truly personalized service — and a smile.

I hope WalMart doesn’t effect their (the Market people’s) business too much. I love going down there to see what the locals have, and I especially love seeing the variety of foods down there.