Today is the Grand Opening of the Fayetteville Sam's Club. I'm not a member, but many folks are happy about this. “Sam’s Club will be a huge asset to Fayetteville in so many ways,” said Mayor Dan Coody. “The design of this unique club demonstrates the company’s commitment to the environment, and their generosity in supporting local charities, city services and organizations demonstrates their commitment to improving the quality of life for residents throughout the area.”
Another thing the opening of the Fayetteville Sam's Club does is put the lie to the Chamber of Commerce spook stories about how planning regulations, sign ordinances, and impact fees drive away business investment and depress tax revenues, always bemoaning Crackerbarrel's decision to take it's oversized sign and locate in a generic shopping center near Big Lots and Freight Tools. Springdale has no impact fees and is just now getting around to adopting a lame sign ordinance, yet Sam's Club up and moved to Fayetteville. Even Wal-Mart wages are higher than the sub-minimum $2.63 wait staff workers are paid in Arkansas, and I hear that a nearby store sells American-brewed beer for cheap.
The next time Bill Ramsey or Steve Rust say the word "Crackerbarrel" like it is some kind of synecdoche for economic depression, just laugh at them and whisper, "Sam's Club."
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