Lines of people greet first Chicago Wal-Mart

The retail chain Alderman Joe Moore and other city council members don't want in Chicago was enthusiastically greeted by West Side Chicago residents earlier today at the grand opening of Chicago's first Wal-Mart.

From AP:

Lines snaked around the mega-retailer's West Side building long before it opened, filled with residents excited to welcome the store, its bargains and its jobs to the area.

"I love this store," Edwards said. "It's about time we get nice stores in this neighborhood."

Bringing Wal-Mart to Chicago was a four-year journey that pitted unions and small business owners against politicians and activists eager to bring jobs to the city's economically depressed West Side.

More than 15,000 people applied for the 400 jobs at the new store, where an estimated 98 percent of workers live in the neighborhood, said store manager Ed Smith.

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