Vermont is Different

But you knew that.  The scatterplot to the right shows (click on it to enlarge) that Vermont has one of the lowest ratios of Wal-Marts per million people in the nation and one of the lowest ratios of Starbucks per million population.   The only states that have fewer Wal-Marts, relative to their population, than Vermont, are New Jersey, New York, and California.  I think there are different factors at work in those states than in Vermont.

Why so few of both stores in Vermont?  It could be that Vermonters just don't like buying inexpensive household items and want to spend more for their groceries and don't like expensive coffee.  More likely is that the chattering classes want to protect the rest of Vermonters from the evil retailer and the non local coffee brewer. 

Comments

[Greg Decker]

I did a bit of consulting work for Starbucks back before they had a presence in VT. At the time they had one location selected for the state - St. Albans. When I asked why not Burlington and why no other stores yet they said Burlington has a "cultural conflict" with the brand and that no other location - besides St. Albans - passed their criteria (which they're very guarded about keeping a secret).

[Jack]

ATTENTION ALL VERMONTERS who just don't like buying inexpensive household items. Avoid traffic, do NOT drive out of Wells River on 302 into Woodsville, NH. An evil new Wal-Mart had its Grand Opening there today. And, even worse than just selling inexpensive items, they don't even add on a sales tax.

[Woodstocker]

GREEN LIGHT SPECIAL!
Fair-trade hot chocolate 'Mayan Delight' just $3.75 now being served at your local coffee shop on Main Street. Tax not optional. Tips neither. Save a tree, feel good, pay through the nose. C'mon kiddies, cough up $5 to give a working stiff a livable wage.

[GreggB]

Starbucks- blech. VT's future is in the hempcoffee industry. If only they'd change the rules man and let us grow hemp-then we'd be thriving.