I pulled my car into the remnants of a snow bank near the corner of Milwaukee and Paulina in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Further down the block and across the street, the curbside was bare. According to a volunteer at a storefront across from the mysterious snow bank, the snow was created as part of commercial shoot for department store giant, Wal Mart. The man that I spoke with, claimed that the commerecial used empty storefronts in the neighborhood to create a fake main street where shoppers rejected the high prices of mom and pop stores in favor of Wal Mart.
Wal Mart, who has opened one store on the West side of Chicago is currently pushing to open an additional store on the city’s south side.
Photo from strannik45 on Flickr used respectfully without photographer’s permission.