Tag Archives: Wal-Mart

No Walmart liquor stores

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some non-election litigation news of interest. Texans still won’t be able to purchase liquor at Walmart, after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by the retail giant that would have allowed the booze to be sold at stores in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

You may finally be able to buy booze at Walmart and Costco now

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with this. A protectionist Texas law that has kept Walmart, Costco and other giant retailers from selling hard liquor was found unconstitutional by a federal judge this week, prompting cheers from free-market advocates — and vows of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Costco joins in on liquor sales

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not just Wal-Mart any more. Wholesale giant Costco has joined Wal-Mart and other retailers in the fight to let public corporations sell liquor in Texas. Texans for Consumer Freedom, a group formed last month to lobby Texas lawmakers to loosen … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why only Wal-Mart?

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Wal-Mart stands to benefit from legislation that would change how retail liquor licenses are granted, but some potential competitors would not. While two state lawmakers recently filed legislation that would allow retail giant Wal-Mart and other public corporations to sell … Continue reading →

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Wal-Mart booze update

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Lege gets involved. One week after Wal-Mart sued the state for the right to sell hard liquor, two Texas lawmakers and a new coalition of businesses are taking the same fight to the Capitol. Wal-Mart, Kroger and the Texas … Continue reading →

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Wal-Mart sues Texas

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about booze. Wal-Mart filed a lawsuit in an Austin federal court on Thursday challenging a Texas law that forbids the company from owning and operating liquor stores in the state. The lawsuit says the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission code … Continue reading →

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Going where the payday lenders are

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The most frequent defense I hear of payday lenders it that there’s a demand for the kind of short-term low-dollar loans that they provide that aren’t provided by other financial institutions, and even if they were those institutions don’t exist … Continue reading →

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Another way to squeeze the payday lenders

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I wholeheartedly approve of this. The Postal Service (USPS) could spare the most economically vulnerable Americans from dealing with predatory financial companies under a proposal endorsed over the weekend by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “USPS could partner with banks to … Continue reading →

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One thing Wal-Mart could be good for

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They could wreak havoc on payday lenders. Raj Date says that with modern data analysis banks could offer payday loans on much less extortionate terms. Felix Salmon retorts that banks don’t actually want to do business with poor people unless … Continue reading →

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Alexan Heights update

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The developers of the Alexan Heights project on Yale will go before the Planning Commission tomorrow to get a variance that would remove a single-family restriction on part of the property. Some folks in the neighborhood have been petitioning against … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Heights Wal-Mart is now open

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

On the plus side, the world did not come to an end. On the minus side, it’s still a lousy location for a Wal-Mart and a giant missed opportunity for better, more urban-oriented development. For nearly 2½ years, Heights-area residents … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Yale Street Bridge to get makeover

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that last November the load limit on the Yale Street Bridge was reduced by TxDOT to 8,000 lbs per single axle and 10,000 lbs per tandem axle, which has resulted in truck traffic being forbidden on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Wayside Wal-Mart update

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Nancy Sarnoff: The East End of Houston has been called a “food desert” for its lack of grocery stores. But come next year, the area will be a little less dry. Wal-Mart Stores said it will open a store … Continue reading →

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Yale Street Bridge load limit reduced by TxDOT

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This hit my inbox on Wednesday afternoon: Yale Street Bridge Load Limit Reduced by TxDOT A recent assessment of the Yale Street Bridge over White Oak Bayou performed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) has resulted in a reduction … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

On getting to walkable urbanism

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This story about neighborhood opposition to the Kroger 380 agreement doesn’t quite get at what I think are the key issues that need to be discussed. [O]pponents of both the Wal-Mart and Kroger deals say suburban-style big-box stores don’t fit … Continue reading →

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More thoughts on the Mayoral election

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I think there are two key things to keep in mind when contemplating Tuesday’s election results in Houston and what they may mean for 2013. First and foremost, I believe you have to see the Mayor’s percentage of the vote, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

RUDH files suit over 380 agreements

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: RUDH has filed a petition in Harris County District Court challenging the legality of a six million dollar tax reimbursement deal between the City of Houston and Ainbinder Heights, LLC, the developer of the Houston Heights area … Continue reading →

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Studemont Kroger update

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Heights Life brings news about the proposed Kroger at Studemont and I-10. Of particular interest is this bit: The property on which Kroger plans to build lies on the east side of Studemont north of Arne’s. The store will … Continue reading →

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Since we’ve been speaking of drainage

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Meanwhile, over in Washington Heights, Ainbinder is doing a commissioning a study of streets and drainage. It’s their second study, as apparently they didn’t like what the first one told them. Go read They Are Building A Wal-Mart On My … Continue reading →

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Heights Wal-Mart public meeting reminder

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Responsible Urban Development for Houston [RUDH] Announces their next: PUBLIC MEETING: TUESDAY MAY 3RD, 2011 AT 6:30 PM The Council on Alcohol and Drugs 303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston, Texas 77007 Regarding: Heights Wal-Mart Project and the … Continue reading →

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Public meeting with updates on Wal-Mart

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From RUDH: PUBLIC MEETING: SEE YOU THERE! Join RUDH and receive updates about the Yale Street bridge, the Bass Street connection and TxDOTs role in ensuring the safety of West End residents, the City’s plan for re-routing 18-wheelers onto Heights … Continue reading →

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Can we take a step forward without also taking one back?

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From last week’s Texas Tribune on the subject of plastic bag recycling. On Tuesday the Senate’s Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony on a bill sponsored by the committee’s chairman, state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, that would require large … Continue reading →

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I-10 service road update

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From Ultimate Heights: Two of six planned detention ponds are under construction near Interstate 10 east of Patterson Street, along with new feeder roads between Shepherd and Taylor. Work on the project began in October, with the first two detention … Continue reading →

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The Wayside Wal-Mart

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For what it’s worth, I don’t have an opinion about the new Wal-Mart at I-45 and Wayside, whether it’s a Super Center or not. Other than a few comments at Swamplot and on the Stop Heights Wal-Mart Facebook page, I … Continue reading →

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The Ainbinder traffic impact analysis for the Height Wal-Mart

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

When last we discussed the Heights Wal-Mart development, we were awaiting a traffic impact analysis (TIA) on the roads around the site, which was to be done on behalf of Ainbinder, the developer of the project. For your perusal, here … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Why HEB is not like Wal-Mart

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I read this story about how residents near the old Wilshire Village Apartments site, where HEB plans to build a new store, will be voting on possible designs for that new store, and I wondered what might have been. Residents … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Email counts, too

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have one thing to say about this. City officials involved in negotiating a tax reimbursement deal with the developer of a controversial Walmart-anchored retail project near Washington Avenue made dismissive, and sometimes derisive, references to citizens opposed to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What if they built it someplace else?

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

For better or worse, the argument against the Washington Heights Wal-Mart mostly boils down to the fact that it’s an inappropriate location for a suburban-style big-box store. There are also concerns about traffic, and about the nature of Wal-Mart, both … Continue reading →

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Council approves the Wal-Mart 380 agreement

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. Over strong neighborhood objections, City Council this morning passed a package of economic development incentives worth more than $6 million for the developer of a future Walmart store near the Heights. City Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck offered two amendments … Continue reading →

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RUDH recommendations to the city

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Whether you think the Stop Heights Wal-Mart effort is a righteous cause or the annoying whine of a bunch of fancypants elitists, I recommend you go check out this post to read the recommendations made by Responsible Urban Development for … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

What could be done with the Wal-Mart site instead

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you read through my previous post, you may be wondering “if not Wal-Mart there, then what?” For that, I turn to Andrew Burleson, wearing his President of the Houston Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism hat, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Falkenberg’s Wal-Mart strawman

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Where to even begin with this bizarre Lisa Falkenberg column? I’ll probably get banned from my favorite Heights coffee house for saying so, and it’s not that I’m a fan of Walmart. Some of their business practices led me years … Continue reading →

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The 380 agreement

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the proposed 380 agreement between the city and Ainbinder for the site now known as “Washington Heights”. It’s all fairly dense legalese, and I confess my eyes glazed over while reading it. If there’s something in here that’s unexpected … Continue reading →

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SN22 public forum and panel discussion about the Wal-Mart

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES FOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT IN THE URBAN CORE: A PUBLIC FORUM AND PANEL DISCUSSION PLANNED IN LIGHT OF MAYOR PARKER’S INTENT TO PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES FOR A SHOPPING CENTER ON YALE STREET AT KOEHLER (HEIGHTS … Continue reading →

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