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Another fight against Wal-Mart Supercenters played out in Southern California this week when the Long Beach City Council banned large-scale grocery stores.
The Long Beach decision is the latest attempt by a locality to ban big-box retailers from selling groceries, although the city exempted wholesalers such as Costco.
Days earlier, a Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Rosemead, despite some backlash against the stores, which sell groceries as well as auto parts, hardware, clothing and other general items. The Supercenter’s grand opening coincides with a current push to recall council members who supported the project.
San Diego is also considering a big-box ordinance that would make it more difficult for the Wal-Mart Supercenters to set-up shop within the city limits. That ordinance, backed by a contingent of traditional grocery stores and organized labor, is expected to be voted on Oct. 23.