21c to partner with Wal-Mart heirs

http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louis ... ily12.html

Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, owners of Louisville’s 21c Museum Hotel, will partner with the Walton family, heirs of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fortune, to build a 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Bentonville, Ark., the headquarters city for the retailer.

Wilson, Brown and the Waltons will build a $28 million, 130-room hotel near the downtown square in Bentonville.

[Robin Garr]

Well, there goes 21c's image for class.

I think it speaks highly that Bentonville will be getting something cool, finally. Unless they put a Wal-Mart in the lobby this is a win. Austin is getting one and now Bentonville. Nice to see us spreading Louisville across the world for a change.

[Robin Garr]

Austin is getting one and now Bentonville. Nice to see us spreading Louisville across the world for a change.

I agree, sort of, although it might have been nice to shoot for some more with-it locations before spreading out to ... Bentonville? Let's face it, the Walmart connection also invites parody.

If you think about it, Ed, too, Louisville has already done a pretty good job of spreading local corporations around the world. KFC/Yum, Papa John's and, back in the day, Chi-Chi's ... hmmm.

I was thinking that it could be a reverse Hard Rock Cafe marketing plan.

[Robin Garr]

I was thinking that it could be a reverse Hard Rock Cafe marketing plan.

Say, that might work!

Seriously, Ed, yes it is good to see something classy like 21c spreading out from Louisville.

Wal-Mart is a touchy subject. I worked for Wal-Mart for many years both based in stores and traveling across the US and Canada. I have been to Bentonville many times and have seen how Wal-Mart plays host(pampers) to some very rich and famous people to bring us those low prices. Everytime I visited the home office I was treated very nice (hotels, food ect..) . If you have ever been to a meeting hosted by Wal-Mart in Bentonville you would understand the need for such a building. I have meet people I guess would be called well above my class while working for Wal-Mart and I was treated with respect not only as a person but for my knowledge in the company. I just don't feel passing judgement (about class) on the world largest retailer/employer in the world is right. I takes thousands of people from all walks of life to make that company thrive. There are good things and bad things about the company, however that is with any company. The best advice I was given when I worked my way up thru the ranks of the company was " Never forget where you came from". Class is not a status it is earned.

Well, there goes 21c's image for class.

What??? Brown Forman heirs got class but the Walmart heirs have no class? How does this diminish the class of 21c?

[Robin Garr]

Well, there goes 21c's image for class.

What??? Brown Forman heirs got class but the Walmart heirs have no class? How does this diminish the class of 21c?

Let's see. 21c ... Walmart. Walmart ... 21c. Either you get it or else you don't.

Well, there goes 21c's image for class.

What??? Brown Forman heirs got class but the Walmart heirs have no class? How does this diminish the class of 21c?

Let's see. 21c ... Walmart. Walmart ... 21c. Either you get it or else you don't.

Maybe we should be talking less about Wal-Mart and more about the art museum and collection that Sam Walton's daughter is putting in Arkansas. I think it's safe to assume 21c wouldn't be going to Bentonville for the WMT headquarters! (I've hung out there for a few days - there isn't much to do right now if it's not related to WMT, but that is changing with the new collection that is soon to land there.)

Maybe we should be talking less about Wal-Mart and more about the art museum and collection that Sam Walton's daughter is putting in Arkansas.

...You could dress a pig in a silk dress and at the end of the day, it's still a pig. So goes Bentonville. Probably more cheap suits and bad haircuts per capita than any place on earth.

...You could dress a pig in a silk dress and at the end of the day, it's still a pig. So goes Bentonville. Probably more cheap suits and bad haircuts per capita than any place on earth.

I'm certainly not extolling the virtues of Bentonville, but rather celebrating a private citizen committing significant private dollars to a museum to improve her hometown. Kind of like Mrs. JB Speed in 1927.

I suppose there are larger cities than Louisville thinking the same thing about us. TP Lowe's post makes a good point, no matter what you are there's always virtue in trying to improve.

[Robin Garr]

I suppose there are larger cities than Louisville thinking the same thing about us. TP Lowe's post makes a good point, no matter what you are there's always virtue in trying to improve.

Yeah, just for the record, I'm not raggin' on Bentonville. More making fun of Walmart.

...You could dress a pig in a silk dress and at the end of the day, it's still a pig. So goes Bentonville. Probably more cheap suits and bad haircuts per capita than any place on earth.

I'm certainly not extolling the virtues of Bentonville, but rather celebrating a private citizen committing significant private dollars to a museum to improve her hometown. Kind of like Mrs. JB Speed in 1927.

T.P.,

Sorry man. Didn't mean to diss the arts...I just have this unhealthy loathing of anything OK/TX or AR. Every time someone mentions one of them I get this weird little twitch in my eye and go kinda sorta whacky (you should see me during football season). I really should seek some treatment.

Anyway...back to diss'n Walmart.