Well, it hasn't done that here.... There isn't a Walmart within 30 miles that I know of, we have all the other chains, and we are doing alright without Walmart!
We've never had one, so I don't know exactly what I am missing, and neither does anyone else.
We don't have any other chains...I guess that's partly why people are upset. There are few chains up here (few stores of any type), so bringing a Wal-Mart to town would have brought people in from around the area - created some jobs, and brought customers to town who would then patronize other businesses. But as it is...they lost that chance. I really think it was the beginning of a business boom for Littleton (NH town maybe 35 miles from here) - they have grown at an astounding rate since Wal-Mart showed up, and I don't think it's just a coincidence.
Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care for the big chains, but in this case, even the family stores benefited.