If Walmart still has its eye on New York City, it’s going to have to focus on another location. Related Companies’ Gateway II mall, the long-rumored East New York site of a city location for the retail giant, has signed a deal with Shop-Rite supermarkets to anchor the development, Crain’s reported.
Opposition to Walmart was fierce following the rumors, as many labor activists feared the retailer would undermine local shops and disapproved of its nonunion hiring practices.
“Walmart today announced that we were unable to agree upon economic terms for a project in East New York,” a spokesperson for Walmart told Crain’s. “We remain committed to bringing new economic development and shopping options to New York City, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most.”
Crain’s said the opposition took credit for Walmart’s inability to land the location. However, polls last year showed a majority of New Yorkers were amenable to a Walmart in the five boroughs, and that many take their dollars to the suburbs to spend money at existing locations. [Crain’s] — Adam Fusfeld