Wal-Mart Open First Chicago Store
Wal-Mart opened its first store in Chicago, Ill. last week. This comes just two weeks after Mayor Richard Daley vetoed an ordinance that would have required big box stores in the city to increase the minimum wage and benefits they pay their workers.
The 142,000 sq.ft. store is located on the west side of the city and reportedly is the first Wal-Mart store with a “green roof” – half of the store roof is covered by a low-maintenance lawn and shrubs as required by Mayor Daley’s environmentally friendly green building initiative.
Since the mayor vetoed the “living wage” ordinance, the retailer said it would be looking at opening additional stores in the city. “We’re definitely going to aggressively pursue more sites,” said Todd Libbra, Wal-Mart’s general manager and vice president for Illinois, in the Chicago Tribune.