I'm sorry, but this has all been stuff that has faced the smaller local stores for as long as I can think. Some places just don't support small, non-chain stores. Back home in Northern Virginia, my town's business center is nice because I'd estimate that 50-60% of the stores are not part of a chain. My girlfriend lives about 25 minutes away from me in a town that is very new, and they have nothing but chains.

I don't like Walmart either, but so do a lot of people. Those are the people who support the other stores. There may not be as many as there should be, but that's the way of it. I should also mention that the only Walmart near me is about 30 minutes away, and I've been to a Walmart twice in my life.

Now I just wish we could get some decent restaurants in my college's area. Nothing but crappy chains.