Wal-Mart Comes to South Bay

Even though Wal-Mart said in a statement they are hoping to bring more jobs to the region, not everyone is happy about it

A new Wal-Mart will be coming to South Bay, announced the megastore’s officials alongside Mayor Jerry Sanders today.

The store will be located at 575 Saturn Blvd., just east of Imperial Beach. The company is using what a former Mervyn's space to house the new Wal-Mart.

Even though Wal-Mart said in a statement they are hoping to bring more jobs to the region, not everyone is happy about the store moving in.

In his 11 years as manager at the Everyday Furniture store in Otay Mesa, Don Aguirre said business has never been this tough. And with the news of the new Wal-Mart on the way just a few blocks down, he says they can't compete.

“It's very, very bad because everybody knows Wal-Mart has the lowest prices and I believe it's gonna hurt a lot of small business like us,” he said.

But by transforming this former Mervyns into a new Wal-Mart, supporters say the pros outweigh the cons.

Juan Gallegos, an Otay Mesa resident, said he won’t have to cross the border to save money on goods as much with a Wal-Mart nearby.

“This brings something to the Latino community in this area that they don't have right now,” he said. “Hopefully the economy improves we'll have more employment, more economic activity and stronger businesses throughout the South Bay.”

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