If you have been out to West Friendly Avenue lately, you've likely noticed some big changes at Quaker Village. A major addition is the Wal-Mart neighborhood store is now open, bringing a grocery store back to the plaza. There hasn't been one since Fresh Market left in 2007. While initially met with resistance, the mini Wal-Mart seems to be gaining in popularity with the locals. The general consensus is that the mini Wal-Mart is easier to navigate than a big one.
Quaker Village is a nice combination of chain stores and independent ones. The owner, Aston Properties of Charlotte, is making a concerted effort to help the stores feel connected as one big, accessible unit. Quaker Village was built over 50 years ago, in 1964.* In 2010, it was sold in a bankruptcy auction and, now, it appears to be gaining momentum as a shopping destination. How nice to see new energy brought to the historic Guilford College area. Today is ABC Wednesday and Q is for Quaker Village. See A-P in our ABC Local series, here.
that looks like a nice little outdoor mall..we had a mini walmart open up around here but i've not been...it's out of the way for me and i do all my shopping at kroger!
Posted by: Tbreese823 | Wednesday, May 06, 2015 at 07:14 AM
It looks like a nice place!
Posted by: VP | Wednesday, May 06, 2015 at 10:27 AM
It looks like it's rejuvenated.
Posted by: William Kendall | Wednesday, May 06, 2015 at 12:04 PM
I don't think I had ever seen a small Walmart store in my area, ours are huge and many a times did me and my friends lost each other.
Posted by: Anit | Thursday, May 07, 2015 at 12:23 AM
Hope the independent stores do not get run out by the Walmart.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
Posted by: Su-sieee! Mac | Thursday, May 07, 2015 at 12:47 AM
The big boys always manage to sneak in amongst small enterprises and then undercut them, I hope that doesn't happen in the QUAKER shopping mall.
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Posted by: Diane Westwell | Thursday, May 07, 2015 at 04:15 AM
I generally find Wal-Mart too large to navigate; this can on;y be an improvement over having the big store.
ROG, ABCW
Posted by: Roger Green | Friday, May 08, 2015 at 06:34 AM