Local businesswoman wary of new Walmart

Walmart plans to open a new 24-hour store in Los Fresnos, but one small business owner says the big box retailer may hurt her local restaurant.

Construction workers have already started work on the new Walmart on West Ocean Boulevard in Los Fresnos. Its a big project for the relatively small town. "Our number one priority is our customers and that's what we're here for and get jobs for our neighborhood, said Walmart Manager Cynthia Garcia, who spoke to dozens of people Tuesday afternoon at a Los Fresnos AreaChamber of Commerce meeting. "Its bringing more jobs to the community, lots of employees that lost their jobs are actually applying right now," Garcia said. Not everyone agreed its a good idea. "It already affected us, a little," said local restaurant manager Elva Gutierrez. Elva Gutierrezs restaurant is a few blocks away from where the new Walmart is being built. A local supermarket already closed. Now Gutierrez fears that could impact the business she's been running for the last eight years. "It's rumored they closed because Walmart came and they couldn't compete," Gutierrez said. Without that clientele next door, Gutierrez is worried she may be forced to shut down. "It's my source of job. Of my kids. It means a lot," Gutierrez said. The Chamber said local business owners shouldn't be concerned. Chamber officials say they believe the Walmart will attract more people to the area and will benefit everyone. "I don't see why anybody would be wanting to travel to Brownsville or San Benito or Harlingen, said Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Aguilar. They can do their business here in Los Fresnos," The Walmart is scheduled to open in mid-March.

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Local businesswoman wary of new Walmart