Wal-Mart bashers are always quick to say how when a Wal-Mart store moves in, local businesses suffer and are driven out of business.  Of course there is no real evidence of this but it doesn't keep them from saying it.  Channel 7 recently ran a great story about the Wal-Mart store in Durango, Colorado. 

The usual arguments were made against the proposed store but it was built anyway and opened on July 15, 1998 - 10 years ago.  Going to Durango now surely you would expect to see bare mom and pop storefronts, dozens of businesses shut down, the local economy in disarray, and the town of Durango virtually decimated by the evil scourge of Wal-Mart.

Interestingly enough, that isn't the case.  All businesses in Durango continue to thrive and indeed, the mom and pop stores don't mind Wal-Mart being there at all!  Of course you won't see this success story come out the next time Wal-Mart tries to build a store in Thornton as it would quickly be drowned out by the union-backed Wal-Mart haters.  For those more willing to be reasonable, it is an interesting article.

Click here to read the full story.