Why no Targets in Vermont?

[Anonymous]

I was browsing Target.com today and it had something about no Targets in Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont. Now, I can understand there being no Targets in Alaska and Hawaii, but Vermont? What gives? Does anyone know why there are no Targets in Vermont?

[Anonymous]

Vermonters don't want any big box stores in their state. I think there is one Walmart though if I recall...

My in-laws do all that sort of shopping in Albany, NY. They just cross over the border.

[Anonymous]

because they care about their beautiful state and the small businesses in towns.

[Anonymous]

Actually, there is certain demographic that Target requires to support one of their retail units. Vermont may not have the population density to support one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because they care about their beautiful state and the small businesses in towns.

Well, that was the original idea, but prices are much higher in the mom-and-pop stores, so the state is more divided on this issue than some people might think. There are currently four Walmarts in VT, for example. In addition, Manchester is home to about 200 bustling retail outlets - everything from Bose to Nike to Levi's to Tumi. Bennington is getting really built up and they had to build a highway around the city for all the tourists entering the state that way. Times are changing. It's unfortunate, because the jobs generated by this sort of thing (including tourism) are almost all minimum wage with little or no benefits.

[Anonymous]

Off topic but related ... I seem to remember that Vermont is also one of the very few, if not the only, state(s) that bans all billboards.

[Anonymous]

True. VT gas a very strong land and development law called Act 250 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_250_(US_law)) .

A proud Vermonter

[Anonymous]

I want to move to Vermont!

[Anonymous]

I spent summers in VT, it is an awesome state!!!! Most of New England is beautiful as well. The people in VT really care, they don't really build ugly things there.

Another town that is hard core is Ithaca, NY. When wal-mart opened they bombed it, no one was hurt, it was vacant. Though, I don't agree with this extremeism, I wish our wal-marts would burn down to the ground, but of course by some sort of natural cause like lightening striking. I certainly would not be sad over it. I have proudly never shopped in Wal-mart.

[Anonymous]

Walmart is depressing. I never went into one until last year, once. This is America. So sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Off topic but related ... I seem to remember that Vermont is also one of the very few, if not the only, state(s) that bans all billboards.

This is true. I went to college in VT - would drive from NY State. You could tell the difference between the two states the minute you crossed the border. All of the sudden the scenery would become much more beautiful. It was so nice not to have the billboards. I absolutely love Vermont. If it weren't so cold, I move back in a heartbeat.