Submitted by Thom, Sep 14, 2007 18:04

Here are Jim Hunter's own words on the closing of his store: "There are a few ways Wal-Mart can shut down family-owned businesses in a community, both direct and indirect. Wal-Mart's arrival represented an indirect factor in the closing of H&H Hardware. "At the same time that Wal-Mart announced they were coming to Middlefield, I was counting on a new business plan and bank loan to continue to support my hardware store - the loans depended on the value of my business and the building. When I went to secure the loan, the appraiser devalued the building at a drastically lower price than I expected - this was directly related to Wal-Mart coming into town. The appraiser told me that banks knock the values of other stores down when Wal-Mart opens in town since 'sooner or later there will be a bunch of empty buildings.' I was turned down for the loan. So, Wal-Mart was a related factor to my business closing down." Him saying later that Walmart didn't have anything to do with the closing is pretty weak. http://www.walmartmovie.com/jon_hunter.php

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