Portland is one of the last cities that Walmart invaded. They knew it would be tough going, but they gave it a shot as part of their attempt to take over the world of retail. It never caught on, first because their locations were bad, and second because we Portlanders already have alternatives.

As the chronicles of Walmart giving up business to dollar stores nationwide in a race to the bottom are written, the minor story of shrinkage in Portland will be lost in all the other mistakes Walmart has made.