Wal-Mart Comes to Oberlin

They are ubiquitous, and you’ve probably been in one. But would you believe the number of Wal-Mart stores across the six-county region is about to grow to 21? The brand new, 21st store opens today - in the heretofore quaint college town of Oberlin. Downtown merchants aren't necessarily welcoming the new neighbor, fearing the pull of business from their own establishments; but other people feel the new jobs, and the regional dollars that could come into town, more than make up for potential losses. What really is the impact of a Wal-Mart store on small-town Ohio? We'll shop the aisles for some answers Monday morning on The Sound of Ideas.Katy Janda, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Oberlin College; Krista Long, owner, Ben Franklin; Mindfair Books, Oberlin; Kenneth Stone, Professor Emeritus, Economics, University of Iowa