Video: Small Business Owners Worry About Wal-Mart Express

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ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Wal-Mart is creating a smaller store to reach customers in rural areas. With rumors of a Wal-mart Express coming to communities like Mantachie and Bruce, some people are nervous about the impact it will have on small businesses.

Highway 371 brings travelers through the small town of Mantachie, where several Mom and Pop stores line the highway.

Now, some worry a Wal-Mart Express could take business away from the smaller shops.

The 12,000-square-foot store is expected to have a gas pump,a pharmacy and small grocery.

“We’re a small town and just anything that’s going to be revenue and business to the area I’m for. I don’t want anything to hurt this area. We got a lot of good local people and I’d hate to see anybody lose their jobs,” says Jeremy Holland, a Mantachie-area resident who works at Riley Auto and Tire.

Holland wants to see the Itawamba County town grow, but he believes Wal-Mart’s track record speaks for itself.

“It’s a family around here. Everybody gets a long and you hate to see something come in like a Wal-Mart that in the past is known for hurting jobs and hurting small mom and pop businesses,” says Holland.

Others aren’t as worried, and think a smaller Wal-Mart could bring more businesses to the area.

“We got people calling me wanting to bring a Huddle House in the town of Mantachie and it’s slowly due to Wal-Mart express coming to Mantachie. So I’ve heard a lot of positives, but I think it will be one of the best things that’s happening to Mantachie in a long time,” says business owner Mike Horton.

Horton hopes other business owners won’t be intimidated about more competition.

“Everybody is scared of change. That’s their biggest fear is they can’t see around the corner to see what’s going to happen. I think that if everybody continues to do business as they have in the past, they’re going to be fine. They just got to go in there and do business,” says Horton.

Whether you agree or disagree with the opening of the store, it’s clear Mantachie residents want what’s best for their town.

Plans for Wal-Mart Express are still not final.