Walmart submits store plan for Cottage Grove; would develop drive-in site
March 30, 2012 at 11:41 am in South Washington County Bulletin
Walmart has submitted a building plan for a store on the Cottage View Drive-In site, city officials said Friday. Continue Reading
super sad to hear the drive in will be closing. Walmart is notorious for building a site, driving wages down in the neighborhood, selling things dirt cheap where people can’t compete and forcing other businesses close down. how can that be good for a community?
closing a drive in? is there anything else we can do to prevent this from happening?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
9
The drive in theater has lots of history and there going to tear it down. I dont care if there is no stores near bye walmart nows that there is lots of history in that
Like or Dislike:
17 
8
Ever go to the Cottage View during the day and turn around and look towards the river? What a view! Too bad it’ll be wasted now. Why can’t the city planners push for more new commercial growth on the west side of 61? For example where the old Majestic Ballroom sits, the Rodeo, etc. etc.?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
36 
6
Wow, Kelly. No offense intended, but which of our MN stores have you seen the detrimental effects of the sing from the songsheet of faux Walmart accusations? Certainly not Hastings, Woodbury or Robert Street. Nor Inver Grove Heights. All have provided great options that blend nicely with existing businesses. Unless you also feel a MacDonalds drives down the market for Burger King neighborhoods. So many hatred stories about Walmart, so few ever proven true.
Hot debate. What do you think?
27 
25
Big disappointment. This is not progress.
Hot debate. What do you think?
24 
10
So walmart has been sued numbers of times because they have people working too long with not enough pay and other reasons(watched 2 documentaries on it) and they wanna go and ruin cottage grove with Walmart that wont help anyone, also the drive in has so much history and there is only about 3 drive ins left in MN, another thing is we have enough stores we dont even have a movie theater here. Cottage grove…. I feel bad for what is to come. Ps Buzz be is so right we have the rodeo lot for sale use that.
Like or Dislike:
14 
6
We do not need a Walmart! There IS one in Hastings and one in Woodbury, both are close enough. People do not need to be so dang lazy that they cannot go to Target and then the grocery store to get all they need. If the drive-in cannot survive anyway, how about we put something recreational for the youth of the city in that spot. Or, just leave it!!!!!!! Every single piece of land does not need to be developed!!!! Look at all the vacant buildings around clogging up the scene, being ugly and useless. Come on now!!
Like or Dislike:
18 
6
While I’m not a huge fan of Walmart, and could do without another one, it makes sense for the city of Cottage Grove for tax revenue, etc. First, the owner of the drive-in is going to sell, regardless. While creating more open space would be nice, it does not generate any tax revenue for the city. Look at all the heat the city has received about the city hall. Imagine if they spent the kind of money necessary to acquire the land to make another park… Slippery slope no matter what they do. Second, the idea is that Cottage Grove would like to keep all of its residents’ money within it’s borders. They don’t want you shopping in Hastings or Woodbury. Third, Walmart — whether you like it or not — attracts other fairly successful businesses to locate to communities they may not have considered locating to in the past (e.g. you want a Chipotle in Cottage Grov, this is how you’re going to get one). Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of better spots to drop a Walmart, even with other vacancies within Cottage Grove. It really is a shame that drive-in is going to have to close, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody since they’ve been working at it for years now.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
7
There is plenty of land available along the west side of 61 to accommodate a Wally World and lots of other commercial interests. Been for sale for decades as has the Cottage View site.. It would be better to build executive style homes with oversize lots on the Cottage view site and surrounding area which could full fill an expanding tax base. Of course as with everything, it’s all market driven.
Like or Dislike:
15 
2
Just say no to Wally World! The city’s “plan” sucks! Develop the other side of the highway with good industrial businesses. They bring in just as much money!. Why not improve and preserve one of the jewels of the city instead of build a big retail chain that takes advantage of its employees? Its a shame that the city thinks this is an improvement. I think its a shame.
Like or Dislike:
10 
8
Would you honestly rather save the drive-in at the risk of higher water and air pollution created by more industrial businesses? Also, nobody can force a person to work or shop at Wal-Mart. Seems to me that it would be a fairly easy job to quit and find work elsewhere at comparable or better wages.
There’s an obvious passion about the drive-in, but unfortunately it’s outmoded, expensive to operate, and the owner wants to sell it. That’s what it all boils down to. The owner is going to, and has the right to, make as much money as possible on the sale. The City of Cottage Grove isn’t forcing him out of business, so they’re not really the bad guy here. The drive-in could be saved if somebody came in, bought it and continued to operate it. It’s not like that’s not an option. It all, unfortunately, comes down to business.
I’m just trying to be the voice of reason. There aren’t very many realistic alternatives. The drive-in is going to be replaced by something; no matter what that something may be, people are going to be upset.
Like or Dislike:
14 
9
The main reason for Cottage Grove even existing is people moved here to work for: 3M Chemolite, Belden Manufacturing, NW Refinery, North Star Steel and a few others. Orrin Thompson built affordable housing and many of the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tile setters that worked for him moved here as they were continually building more housing additions in the area. You have to have a balanced mix of industry, manufacturing, commercial and service business’s in order for a community to thrive and grow. Besides the Cedarhurst Mansion, the Cottage View Drive In is probably the most recognized landmark in CG and it’s unique because there are so few of them left. If so many people want to save it, then put an consortium together with financial backing and buy it. If the price is right, the owner will sell it to you. You’ll have to convince the city planners first that there isn’t gold beneath the gravel though.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
19 
0
Good suggestion, Buzz!
Several smaller cities have saved their outdoor theaters by doing just that. I know of a few that are now owned by either the towns or by a local outfit like Lions, American Legion, Eagles, etc.
And, there are a lot of smaller theaters being forced to close because of the cost of installing that new digital system. Indoor and outdoor. Seems stupid to me that the industry would be penalizing the small operator the way they have been. First, a lot of singlescreens were forced out because the distributors weren’t willing to send first run movies out to them and now they’re going to do away with the films entirely in favor of the new digital tech. Replacing the old film projectors with the new stuff runs something like $60K to $80K per screen.
Since theater owners don’t get more than a dime on the dollar from the ticket sales, they have to rely on what they get from concessions. And when most of them are just breaking even, even run the theater as a sideline, the new tech is killing them.
I wonder if the Cottage View would qualify for some kind of ‘historical site’?
Like or Dislike:
12 
1
sadly you have to factor in that a drive in is only open at best 4 1/2 months of the year in our neck of the woods. So you’re paying property taxes all year for that limited window revenue stream. To keep the Cottage View would require the city, county and state to give special consideration to anyone that wants to save it. That ain’t gonna happen because of the almighty buck to be made. If it was a bona fide historical site, they probably wouldn’t allow the projector upgrade for it to qualify. I think maybe find a big farm field for sale a little further out, build a new state of the art drive in and just purchase the Cottage View name and sign and start all over.
Like or Dislike:
6 
3
Buzz. the short season thing no longer holds water. Several intrepid DI owners have found ways to generate income during the offmonths. Such things as onsite indoor theaters, flea markets, diners, etc.
Fact is, there has been a resurgence in outdoor theaters for some time now. Reopenings and newbuilds. Iowa just opened two brand new ones, and Wisconsin had at least one, last time I looked. And if I’m not mistaken, the Vali Hi has already installed the new tech.
You might wish to look at Drive-Ins.com for more info.
Like or Dislike:
6 
1
A couple of things. First, Wal-Mart will bring jobs to people in Cottage Grove (yes, I’ve seen the documentary too, and know that every story has two sides). Second, we had a developer who wanted to bring Gold’s gym and other stores to Cottage Grove a few years back. They wanted it to go on the Majestic site. But, there was a groundswell of opposition to that, because the Majestic was “historic” and held a lot of memories. Well, we still have the Majestic – and it is not usable. I have memories of it too. My father was a musician and played there at least once a month during its prime. Sure, I think of him sometimes when I drive by, but that doesn’t do anyone else any good. It’s developed land. It has a purpose and right now it is not serving that purpose at all. The same can be said of Cottage View. Yes, it will hold memories fom people. But, it isn’t really functional. The Cottage View site was masterplanned in 2004 to be a business center. It is one of the very few sites in Cottage Grove that can be developed as such and it should be. We are a growing city and ammenities are demanded. Plus, for everyone who complains about their property tax, a big box like this will have a significantly positive impact on property taxes. Right now, taxes are more than 70 percent funded by homeowners. Many other cities have flip flopped that figure, with the tax burden better diversified. Finally, every other city that has a Target and a Wal-Mart sees competitive pricing. If you haven’t noticed, the CG target prices significantly higher than either of the Woodbury Target’s or the Hastings Target.
Like or Dislike:
9 
7
wow! Personally I don’t want a walmart in cottage grove. But after reading the update on the Drive-in the owner is not interested in upgrading. With the cost of taxes on the land and the cost of the movies I think the drive-in is just breaking even. Unfortunately I think the drive-in closing down is a foregone conclusion. Which is a real shame, I remember going there as a young kid, and taking my kids there when they were little. It will be missed immensely.
Now on another note, hey don’t dis those old companies that brought the populace to the grove in the first place. North Star Steel employed a lot of people that live in and around, Cottage grove, St Paul Park and Newport.
Like or Dislike:
9 
0
Walmart only ‘competetive prices’ according to the local prices. Every store has different prices, depending on the locale.
When my parents used to visit me in SW MN, they’d go shopping because the WM prices there were lower than the ones in Alexandria, where they lived.
Like or Dislike:
4 
2
Chris R. has some points, but fails to mention others. The biggest oppositon for the Majestic site was the city. Check it out. Their words – we’re not ready to developed it. To his other point that people are demanding all these things, I suggest the city look around and see all the things they claim we demand, there are a lot of empty building that people demanded but didn’t support. Speaking of demands, where’s the community center folks around here have been wanting for years.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
The powers that be are planning for a commuter rail station for the Majestic/Langdon area. It’ll sit there until they get their way.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
Why do we need a walmart
What i will do when walmart gets built
1. Dislike Walmart On Facebook
2. Show my appreciation for walmart and shop at target
3. Talk to the major
Like or Dislike:
0 
0