Center for Urban Research and Learning

Loyola University Chicago

Here you will find all of CURL's research projects and publications.

The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood’s Experience

(2009)

This study, conducted by CURL and University of Illinois Chicago, focuses on the Wal-Mart store that opened on the West Side of Chicago in September 2006.  The research team conducted a series of three surveys of retail businesses in an area within a four-mile radius of the Wal-Mart location at 4650 W. North Ave, Chicago IL 60639.  The surveys were administered in the summers of 2006 (before the Wal-Mart opening), 2007 and 2008.  The basic sample follows 306 enterprises 82 of which went out of business over the study period.  

In addition to surveying area businesses, the group also assessed other sources of data, including sales tax data from the Illinois Department of Revenue and employment data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Download Final Report The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood’s Experience

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