Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has reached an agreement to open its first store in Vermont, the only state without one of its discount stores.
The 50,000-square-foot store will open in downtown Bennington, about 10 miles from the New York border. The site, formerly occupied by F.W. Woolworth, is about half the size of a typical Wal-Mart location.
The retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., has battled environmentalists and preservationists in Vermont for years over plans to open stores of between 100,000 and 200,000 square feet on the outskirts of several towns.
The groups praised Wal-Mart’s decision to opt for a smaller downtown site, which they said will protect the state’s rural character.
“From the beginning, we have not been opposed to Wal-Mart,” said Paul Bruhn, executive director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont. “We have, however, been strongly opposed to proposed locations that sprawl into the countryside and undermine the strength of our downtowns.”
Local protesters had dubbed the stores “Sprawl-Marts” and distributed leaflets, held rallies, made bumper stickers and claimed the stores would hurt the environment and small businesses.
