CHAMBER CHOWDER© 510 Greene Street ~ 1st Floor, Key West www.keywestchamber.org Wal-Mart Executive Answers Message from President Nicki L. Will Questions, Addresses Concerns his time of year the Chamber’s TEconomic Devel- opment Committee is gearing up for a variety of meetings with govern- mental entities such as the City of Key West, the Monroe County BOCC, the Monroe County Key West Chamber of Commerce President Nicki Will, second from right, thanked representatives Sheriff’s Department, of Wal-Mart and the new shopping center proposed for Rockland Key for their presentation during the Mosquito Control, Keys Energy System, Monroe chamber’s July membership luncheon. Pictured left to right are: Peter Rysman, attorney; shopping center developer David Garfunkel; Wal-Mart Public Affairs Director Glen Wilkins; Chamber President County School Board, and the Florida Keys Aque- Nicki Will and land planner Owen Trepanier. duct Authority. The reason for these annual meetings is to review and discuss their proposed budgets for he dialogue between the local business community and Wal-Mart fiscal year 2015-2016. For many years the Economic representatives continued July 22nd when a Wal-Mart public affairs specialist Development Committee has met with local govern- T met with members of the Key West Chamber of Commerce to address some of their most pressing concerns. ment officials, reviewed proposed budgets, and asked Greg Wilkins, director of public affairs and governmental relations for Wal-Mart probing questions. Stores, Inc., presented an overview of the Wal-Mart Super Center that would occupy The mission of the Key West Chamber’s roughly one-third of a new shopping center being planned on Rockland Key. Wilkins then Economic Development Committee has been to answered questions submitted by chamber members during the lunchtime discussion. work with Chamber staff to obtain and analyze Wilkins acknowledged the community’s concerns and mixed emotions toward the retail giant, but vowed to maintain an open dialogue and a transparent planning process. data to understand current and future economic “If there are skeletons in the closet, if there are concerns, then let’s have the dialogue,” conditions and trends, which may affect the he said. “Whether we agree or not, let’s talk.” general business climate in Key West. At this time Traffic impacts, employment issues and local economic impacts emerged as some of the year there seems to be nothing more central of the top concerns, which Wilkins addressed following an introduction of the project to the business climate than the proposed tax proposed near Mile Marker 9. structure and assumptions that are the foundation Chamber Chowder The 135,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Super Center would be a 24-hour, full-service Wal-Mart featuring general merchandise, a full supermarket, fresh food, a vision center, a of these budgets. VOL. 17, NO. 12 continued on page 34 hair salon and pharmacy offering Wal-Mart’s $4 prescription medication. “We decided people shouldn’t have to choose between their prescription medication and their food, so we started offering more than 400 medications for just $4,” Wilkins Table of Contents said, adding that other retailers like Target and Publix have since followed suit, which helps more consumers get more affordable medicine. Business Spotlight . 2 When asked whether the Rockland Key store would be open 24 hours, Wilkins said Chamber to Elect 5 Directors of the Board . 4 it is the norm for the chain’s Super Centers, and would be a convenience likely utilized by July 1st and 15th Elisa Levy Seminar . 5 this area’s hospitality workers and bartenders who often work until the early morning hours. Tom Sawyer 5 Star Program . 5 . “But each store manager has the authority to decide whether to keep their store open Business Trends . 6-7 24 hours a day,” Wilkins said. 27th Annual Trade Show Information . 8 He told chamber members that an average Super Center employs about 300 people Business After Hours . 9 working a combination of full-time and part-time jobs, but that figure varies widely New Members . .10 . among different stores. Cruise Ship Calendar . 10 One other financial figure that interested chamber members was the starting hourly Community Calendar . 10 wages for Wal-Mart employees, who will have to be able to afford Florida Keys rents. “We understand we have to pay competitive wages,” Wilkins told the chamber audience. Dog Daze Promotion Program . 11 . Chamber Calendar of Events . .12 . continued on page 3 4 Page 1 Chamber Chowder August 2015 VOL. 18, NO. 8 Spotlight Shines on ... Mike Petro, RE/MAX Keys Connection make all the puzzle pieces fit to facilitate a deal also has spent time in recent years lobbying for his and get the highest and best value.” profession in Tallahassee and Washington, DC. He used the example of a recent As incoming president of the Key West commercial property that had been on the Association of Realtors and a former board market for six years when he got the listing. member, Petro has represented local Realtors on “The property was appraised at $2.6 flood insurance issues and in their efforts to preserve million, but I ended up getting $4.6 million the federal mortgage interest tax deduction. for it,” Petro said. “It was a matter of getting “Without that tax deduction, why buy a the proper licenses and permits in place to home?” said Petro, who acknowledges that 2007 ensure the best possible use of the property. probably wasn’t the best time for him to enter the “The seller hadn’t originally owned their full-time real estate fray. “In 2007, properties were bay bottom, and didn’t have the license for a still selling and the banks were still lending money marina. With everything in place, the property without any support until things finally fell off.” had a much bigger potential for the buyer.” But Petro’s problem-solving skills with Each month, the Chamber of Commerce spotlights Key West’s outstanding tourism statistics have tough transaction kept him afloat. a business or professional person whose business card is made the island a destination market, Petro said, “We made it through the downturn, and now drawn at the Business After Hours. This month’s winner is Mike Petro, RE/MAX Keys Connection. adding that the island’s high average daily rates obviously the market is again doing very well.” for hotel rooms and impressive occupancy figures Petro is happy to meet with potential buyers rom cell phones to second homes, are attracting a host of international investors and sellers, and enjoys the location of the RE/ Mike Petro has spent his career in interested in owning Key West hotels and resorts. MAX Keys Connection office in the historic F some form of sales. “We’ve done business with Swedes, Russians Heritage House Museum at 410 Caroline St. Stop “I’ve always been in sales and sales and Italians, to name just a few,” said Petro, who by to see him there, or call 305-296-1400. management of some sort,” said the Key West Realtor who joined broker Curtis Skomp at RE/MAX Keys Connection in March. “One of the reasons I joined RE/MAX was to expand my commercial real estate experience.” Petro moved to the Keys in 2000 after selling a chain of cellular stores he had owned in the Boca Raton area. He obtained his real estate license in 2005, and at one time was both an active Realtor and the director of real estate advertising sales for the Key West Citizen newspaper. He left The Citizen in 2007 to focus solely on real estate transactions. “I’ve done both residential and commercial properties,” he said, adding that problem- solving is one of his stand-out skills. “I’m a good negotiator, and can solve problems to The Chamber Chowder Heartily Thanks These Businesses for Their Generous Support of this Issue of the Newsletter Ernest Hemingway La Concha YP.com House Museum Crowne Plaza 9850 NW 41st St. 907 Whitehead Street 430 Duval Street Doral, FL 33178 Key West, FL 33040 Key West, FL 33040 305-482-2601 305-294-1136 305-296-2991 Porter Allen Old Town Key West Insurance Company Development 513 Southard Street 201 Front Street, Suite 301 Key West, FL 33040 Key West, FL 33040 305-294-2542 305-294-3225 Page 2 Chamber Chowder © August 2015 VOL. 18, NO. 8 “Wal-Mart ...” continued from page 1 4 President’s Message continued from page 1 4 In a recent headline-making move, Wal- “That’s all up to FDOT, and it’s been my This seems like an especially critical Mart upped its starting salaries across the experience to ‘trust them, they’re here to help,’” year with numerous governmental country to ensure that every Wal-Mart associate Trepanier said wryly, remaining at the podium earns at least $9 per hour. The Arkansas-based to address some submitted questions about entities planning to increase various company has announced plans to further employee housing, another factor that the forms of revenue through taxes, fees, increase that to $10 per hour in the coming year. developers cannot entirely control. user fees and other forms of revenue One audience member asked Wilkins to Trepanier explained that the shopping center generation that generally falls to the address salary levels in a place — like the Keys property includes 33 residential building rights, businesses and individuals living within — where unemployment is unusually low. “But the county won’t let us build residential the Keys. The Economic Development Wilkins told chamber members about a housing on the site, so we’re working with Habitat store in an area of North Dakota that is home to for Humanity to put those building rights to use Committee intends to ask pointed oil rig workers and other skilled workers.