Times before Walmart

I’m not an active Walmart basher [“Attention Walmart bashers,” editorial, Opinion, June 28], but I have never set foot in a Walmart store and never will.

Carlinville, Ill., used to be a friendly small town with a town square, a meeting place with friendly businesses and friendly people. In the 1950s, Walmart opened a huge store on cheap property at the edge of town, and the friendly social structure of downtown Carlinville collapsed.

In 1950, my parents retired to Bentonville, Ark. At that time, Bentonville was much like Carlinville. Sam Walton could be seen driving around town in a beat-up pickup, waving to friends. Now Bentonville is overrun by the hustle and bustle of big business.

Yes, times have changed, and the entrance to the new Walmart at Kelsey Creek may be bright and cheerful, and will bring in other businesses, but it’s not the same — I prefer the old way of doing business.

— Roy Richards, Seattle