Muslim Walmart Opens in Dearborn Michigan
Walmart is set to open tomorrow a new, one of its kind, Supercenter in Dearborn, Michigan.
The store will carry over 500 items that will cater to the Dearborn Muslim shopper.
The range of products from the Middle East and other areas includes a large variety of olives, halal meats, Lebanese spices, Greek olive oil, date-filled cookies from Saudi Arabia, chewing gum from Jordan, Turkish candies, frozen okra, Lebanese-style yogurt and Bulgarian feta cheese.
Most items are supplied by Tut’s International Export & Import Co. in Dearborn. John Shenouda, vice president at Tut’s, helped Wal-Mart determine which products to stock at the store. Wal-Mart also obtains goods from other local vendors such as the New Yasmeen Bakery in Dearborn.
The store will also have the same amount of shelf space for items which appeal to the Mexican shopper.
Signs in the store will be in three languages, Arabic, Spanish and English while employees will wear nametags which inform shoppers that a particular clerk speaks other languages than English.
According to the Dearborn Free Press, the 2000 United States Census found that 30% of the total population of Dearborn are Muslim, with 115, 284 Arab Americans residing in the state of Michigan.
Local merchants are not thrilled with the new superstore, worried that Walmart’s pricing will hurt the littler shop owners in the area. The chairman of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce in Dearborn commented on the new Walmart and its impact on the local merchants:
“They have been trying to gear the store up to attract shoppers from our community,” Beydoun said. “Our community has been traders and merchants for thousands of years. So Wal-Mart’s entry will make an impact, but it won’t be disastrous.”
The store will also sell Mexican music and videos, Middle Eastern music and greeting cards, and developing a line of Islamic cards.
Just recently Walmart apologized to a Muslim woman shopping in a store in Riverdale, Utah. The woman, who wore a veil, claims she was mocked by a cashier who said to her “please don’t stick me up”.
Walmart Regional Manager and Vice-President Rolando Rodiquez sent a letter to the woman which was released by the local chapter of CAIR, the Council of American-Islamic Relations:
“I can assure you that the associate in question was disciplined in accordance with our employment policies as a result of the situation,” Rodriguez said without disclosing details.
Walmart also vowed that the employees at the Riverdale store will undergo sensitivity training on Islamic religion and Muslim culture.
by LBG
Source – Acc-TV
Source – Detroit Free Press
Image – Walmart
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Here is a letter that I have recently sent to the walmart customer service dept as well as a few executives.
To whomever it may concern:
I am writing to let you know that you have lost a very loyal and regular customer. Every since earlier this year when the Dearborn, MI Walmart store #4383 opened up I have put up with crappy customer service. Recently I overheard some associates talking about how so many cashiers there are stealing money from the registers. About how one girl walked out with 5000.00 in her pocket and then quit so they would not have the chance to approach her. The worst part of that is that they were gloating about it like they were proud of her. Also, how they busted some other cashier by putting a hidden camera to video tape the garbage can because thats where she was putting all the money she was stealing, They were talking about how they tricked her and told her they had to fix her light and that was when they installed the camera. Recently while being checked out my cashier was talking to the one next to her saying that one customer told her that she had a bad attitude and she told the customer that she better mind her own business or else she would have to “disrespect her too”. C’mon this is ridiculous! Nearly every associate in that store has a bad attitude and has no idea what customer service is. Why do I keep coming back? I do because its literally right down the street and they have everything in one stop as well as very good prices. I bought my flat screen tv, new vacuum cleaner, babys clothes and diapers, my older daughters clothes, all my groceries and anything else I needed for my household.
This latest incidenct was the last straw. I came to walmart receipt in hand because I had bought a mp3 player for my child for christmas. I decided to give this christmas present to her early because I felt she needed cheering up. My husband is away working in Iraq with the army and will not be home this christmas as he was not home last christmas due to the same circumstances. We got into a car accident two days prior and wrecked my car. I thank god they are ok becaue the car that hit me was only inches away from crashing into the part of my car that my children were sitting in. My 8yr old was a little traumatized so i thought the mp3 player would cheer her up a little bit. Well, she opened it and was sooo excited until she tried to turn it on and it did not work. I thought maybe it needed charged so we charged it for a few hours and still nothing. I assured her that I would take it back and get her a new one that worked. I bought this mp3 player on black friday and since it was past 3 weeks (which no one had advised me of) they absolutely refused to replace it. I pleaded with the manager “Lou” several times that I had my receipt and it was a christmas gift. He still refused. Now, had this been a working unit that I just wanted my money back on they I would completely understand and accept your policy. But this one was defective and would not work and it was a christmas present. So now after I promised my kid a bran new one that works for christmas I have to wait and plead with the mp3 player manufacturer to replace it. And if they will replace it then it will take weeks.
After I sat in my car and cried for about a half hour I went across the street to Target and purchased another that I cannot afford because I have a $500 deductible to pay on my car now. I felt I had no choice because my daughter cant take anymore bad news at this time. I am an avid walmart shopper, but no more. I will happily go across the street to Target and down the street to Kroger for all my future needs because I will not shop at a store that even replace a defective $29.00 for a sad little 8 yr old girl 3 days before christmas.
I went through my online statements for my bank account and here are all my transactions for this store, keep in mind that this does not include all the times I have paid cash and have used other credit cards. Just going from my bank statements alone since March 08 I have spent more than $3000.00 at just this one walmart store. If losing me as a customer is better than replacing a $29.00 defective mp3 player that I was sold then thats your call but I will never shop at any walmart again. I also plan on posting this letter any shopping, discount, walmart, any kind of blog where I think someone will care. I dont think its fair that us hard working class people spend the money that we work so hard to earn at your store and get no respect or customer service back. We are in a recession, people are not spending their money like before so you need to hang on to all the customers you can. Good Luck and I really wish you would look into the management practices at this store.
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dude Reply:
March 14th, 2009 at 12:55
why don’t you email them we don’t care
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Thour1500 Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 22:05
What a sad story, full of lies.
Look woman, just shut up and don’t go there anymore.
As to the return policy, hey, I bought things and took back, no problem, I had bought them and paid for them so they gave me my money back, actually they refunded my CC.
for someone who spends $3,000.00 at walmart, u r not that poor, r u? or u really did not spend that, did u?
Look woman, just don’t go there.
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That’s sad, those poor Muslims and Mexicans are going to have to get the same horrible shit we do at Wal-Mart……oh well, if the racism doesn’t run them out of the country, cheap-ass plastic goods just might. LOL….
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Ummm. Vince? Are you a dumbass?
And to the smartass that posted this article; How is it that a “Muslim” Walmart can even exist? Do you mean that this Walmart will offer “MIDDLE EASTERN” products and groceries? WOW… Sometimes I wonder if any of you even have H.S. Diplomas. Dumbasses…
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Uh, Yeah Mike, I’m a dumbass by saying that Walmart sells cheap plastic shit. Now…let’s take a moment to see what you wrote…..mmmhmmm….I see you either didn’t read the article or comprehend what it says. Seems to me this Walmart will carry more items that appeal to the Muslim/Middle Easter population of that community…actually, the say….’products from the Middle East’…so I can only assume by that, they mean Middle Eastern……no? Btw…they refer to it as a Muslim Walmart because that is what the racist hiding under the veil of ‘conservatives’ that run this website like to do…it makes racism seem more acceptable when you tag it as something else, like patriotism or right wing conservatism…sad, but true.
So the answer I guess is yes….Middle Eastern products in a Walmart, and yes, they did refer to it as ‘Muslim’…and yes, I must be a dumbass cuz I read it and understood it the first time….now, off to get my G.E.D…thanks for the advice!
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Wow. Your reasoning is just ignorant. Let me explain in simpler terms so you, Vince, can comprehend since you aren’t well-developed “up there”.
A “MUSLIM” is someone who follows “ISLAM”. This WALMART can not be a “MUSLIM” Walmart. There can not be MUSLIM products because again MUSLIMS are PEOPLE that follow the religion of ISLAM. Therefore, a tangible item and/or product (or STORE- “Walmart”) can NOT be MUSLIM.
Now will it make sense to call a walmart a CHRISTIAN WALMART; and to state that it carries CHRISTIAN products. NO. It does not.
Dumbass.
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Mike, again, you are correct. Actually, I can’t figure out which is funnier, that you and I are saying the same thing….i’m just using sarcastic humor while you’re using whatever it is you’re using…or the fact that you are arguing with the one person (me) that is actually agreeing with you.
Try reading mine again, and this time, see if you have open the door to your head that is able to understand sarcam and dry wit…..if not, I understand…after all, you did sign your note as ‘dumbass’…..and really, isn’t accepting your limitations most of the battle in life?
OF COURSE you can’t refer to it as Muslim, that’s what i’ve been making fun of all along…..but your’e need to ‘fight’ and ‘argue’ won’t let you see that I was, in fact, poking fun at the misuse of the word Muslim…..again….same argument…..I think you need to step back, know when youre being agreed with…and perhaps realize that it’s not YOU against THEM…not all the time anyway…though I can see how that may be a common theme in your life…as you appear to be the type of person who has many many friends who love being talked down to by someone who ‘thinks’ they get it, but in fact…..is the most ignorant of the bunch.
Peace
…and please, before you respond to this email ‘again’ and tell me how I ‘don’t get it’ and try to simplify your ‘argument’….find someone who can read the comments and explain to you that we’re talking about the same thing…..and congrats on learning how to use the internet….that couldn’t have been an easy task apparently….cheers!
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I love arabic food but I will not be shopping at this Wal-Mart because of who supplies their food. I have heard more horror stories about Tut’s International Export and Import. Food poisoning cases from places that are supplied by them, employee mistreatment, and I heard they are getting audited by the feds. Tsk tsk.
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@ Vince and Mike….first i hope either of you are Muslim
Second..you both act like children..now behave and go wash your mouth’s with soap
grow up…………………
@ Linda…stories are just that….stories..is never wise to make alligations without knowing the facts
and it seems to me you really dont know if your stories are true.
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Hank Johnson said that if any more muslins go to this
WalMart the whole store will tip over and capsize.
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LOL@Vince! Thanks for making my day! hehe
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I live in NC and our Walmart caters to the Mexican population…they even play MEXICAN music over the PA system, the clothing and shoes have a hispanic slant. Not to mention all the mexican made foods in the grocery store. This isn’t meHECo. it’s American. Why come here as immigrants if you’re just going to continue your 3rd world way of life and customs.
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@ jobs for Americans….why because the situation here is better and its called FREEDOM…Hello and why would someone want to change and act like some Americans such as drinking,drugs,incest,and walking around half naked if not all the way!!! And the obvious that is the way their raised,you cant just change your culture just because you come to America(which does’nt have a specific culture or religion)thats why William Penn made Pennsylvania the state for people to chose their own religion HELLO Do you know anything about our HISTORY????
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All non muslim Americans, if there are any left, should boycott this Walmart and write to WalMart and voice their opinion.
The manangers should ask the muslims who work in the store if there opinion on hamas and if they would denounce hamas, if they won’t then you will know that they don’t want to be an American. If they won’t answer or if they support hamas then fire them and kick their behinds out of the country. We don’t want Terrorists in our Country. Islam is not a religion when their objection is to destroy America and make shariah law the law of this country.
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Wow, I am so disappointed to see that we as Christians and American’s can be so narrow minded and prejudice. So should the Oriental Markets be shut down because they cater to Asians? Should the Soul food restaurants shut down because they cater to the taste of African Americans? Why can’t people just live their own lives and stop making it their business to try to run everyone else’s. We are all proud of our heritage so if you don’t like the Walmart, don’t go there, but there is no need to badger those that do or who work there. J/C
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