Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Are Lay's Limited-Time "Do Us A Flavor" Potato Chips Sold Out in St. Louis?

In February Gut Check fell in love. The object of our affection: Lay's new, limited-time chicken-and-waffles potato chips, one of three flavor finalists in its "Do Us A Flavor" contest. It was love-at-first-bite. But as is the fate of most missed connections, we hesitated too long in reconnecting ... More >>

Animal Activists Protest Cruelty to Pigs Outside Walmart in Maplewood

Well, the giant, inflatable pig covered in sores and dirt was cuter than we imagined. Local animal-rights activists joined members of the national animal rights organization Mercy for Animals today in front of the Maplewood Commons Walmart just off South Hanley Road in protest of Walmart's practic ... More >>

Walmart Missed Connections: Top Seven Missouri Craigslist Posts

Recently, Psychology Today put out an intriguing little infographic charting the most common places a Craigslist "missed connection" occurs by state. The most lovesick locale in Missouri? Walmart. Some people might call this the end of romance or a signal of the decline of Western society as a whol ... More >>

The Missouri People of Walmart (PHOTOS)

The wonderful People of Walmart website collects photos of the wackiest customers across the country -- and Missouri appears to be a goldmine. In honor of Michelle Obama's visit to Springfield's Walmart tomorrow, we thought we'd collect the best and worst from the People of Walmart -- a sneak peek ... More >>

Michelle Obama: First Lady Headed to Springfield Walmart For Anti-Obesity Campaign

First Lady Michelle Obama has chosen a Walmart in Springfield, Missouri to promote her "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign. To what do we owe this honor? It may not hurt that Missouri is on track to have incredibly high rates of obesity in the coming years, at least according to some studies. And ... More >>

Wal-Mart Theft: Alton Residents Steal Vacuum, Headphones, Return to Store -- With Drugs

If you steal large items from a Wal-Mart, it's perhaps not a great idea to return to the store two days later to steal more goods. But if you must -- maybe try not to be carrying illegal drugs. You know, just in case they noticed you the first time you walked out of the store with stuff you clearly ... More >>

Kermit Mix? Woman Finds Live Frog in Bagged Salad

Oh, indeed, it ain't easy being green. Yes, that's a frog -- a living, breathing frog, in fact -- inside a package of bagged salad. A Lake County, Florida, woman says she found the frog inside the salad, which she bought from Wal-Mart.

Imperial Couple Charged with Making Counterfeit $$$

On Monday a couple from Imperial in Jefferson County tried to pull a fast one on the Walmart in Kirkwood, according to the U.S. Attorney for Missouri's Eastern District. Misty Ann Root, 38, and Daniel Wayne Flynn, 37, were reportedly caught with $240 in phony $20 bills. Later that evening, authoriti ... More >>

People of Walmart: The Missouri Gallery

Perhaps our favorite part about People of Walmart, a site where readers submit photos of Walmart fashion, is that you can isolate just one state -- like ours! Click through to see who's been shopping at Missouri Walmart stores in the last year.

Folks at the Lake of the Ozarks Are Miffed About This T-Shirt? Really?

According to the Rolla Daily News, some folks down in the Lake of the Ozarks are getting all hot 'n' bothered about a new t-shirt that's flying off the racks in Wal-Mart stores in that area. The shirt's message: "Came on Vacation; Left on Probation." Behold the displeased quote from Tim Jacobsen, ex ... More >>

Springfield Women Accused of Shoplifting Left Kids in Car

Two unidentified Springfield, Missouri, women, ages 19 and 24, were accused of shoplifting by Walgreens staff, and the police were duly summoned. The young ladies expressed some concern to the police that there were kids waiting for them in their car. It was after midnight, after all -- you can't be ... More >>

Study Suggests St. Louis = Walmart of the U.S.

Greetings from metro St. Louis!​A new study is out comparing St. Louis to 34 other metro areas in the U.S. in everything from cost of living to crime to migration and health. So, how does the St. Louis region stack up? You might compare us to Walmart with it's "Save Money; Live Better" slogan. (We ... More >>

Introducing IHOP At Home: Because 24-Hour IHOPs Simply Aren't Convenient Enough

Image via​The next time you're wandering through the frozen-food section at your nearest Wal-Mart, keep an eye open for a newcomer to the already-crammed breakfast section. Tucked in next to the Pillsbury Toaster Strudel and the Hot Pockets, IHOP will be stocking its new IHOP At Home line of b ... More >>

Lincoln County High School Pool Pranksters Jailed on Burglary Charges

George Bailey, in a more classic high school pool prank​Here's what's hard to understand: For those who take baths, you may absent-mindedly forget to turn the water off every once in a while. If you cook on a stove top, maybe you sometimes to forget to turn off a burner. But if you've ever dec ... More >>

Grape Tomatoes, Canned Seafood Get Nasty

Gray's Harbor Public Market​ Who doesn't love a good seafood salad with tangy little grape tomatoes? The human gastrointestinal tract, that's who, especially if that salad's made with the canned seafood the FDA's just recalled. Quinault Tribal Enterprise in Washington State has recalled al ... More >>

Dustin Walls: Teen Ordered to Pay Walmart $1 Million; But Will Bentonville Even Notice?

​A 17-year-old from southwestern Illinois could be paying Walmart for the rest of his life, following a fire he set in the company's Wood River store last year. Dustin Walls pleaded guilty Monday to starting a fire in the 24-hour Walmart in September 2010. Surveillance cameras reportedly caught Wa ... More >>

Fazoli's Inside a Walmart and Where the Heart Is

courtesy Fazoli'sFazoli's and Walmart go together like cheap wine and cigarettes.​If you had to name one corporation and one person out for world domination right now, it'd be a no-brainer: Walmart and Natalie Portman. And now, with an assist from the fast-casual Fazoli's chain, Walmart is ste ... More >>

Rams Owner Stan Kroenke Wins Appeal For Public Funding For Belleville Walmart

Stan Kroenke can move forward on his plans for a Belleville Walmart.​Sure he's worth nearly $3 billion, according to Forbes magazine, but, hey, business is business. And earlier this month, St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke won another sweetheart deal for his bread-and-butter business: the Walmart ... More >>

Appeals Court: "Disgusting" Gestures OK for Workplace

Wal-Mart managers got you down? Why not tell 'em how you feel?​Good news for all you disgruntled WalMart workers out there: You can flip off your boss. You can even tell your boss that he "disgusts" you. And even after all that, your boss still doesn't have the right to fire you for misconduct!Tha ... More >>

Missouri Flunks Food Safety Test

Missouri, you get an F in reporting foodborne illnesses. TheHill.com shared a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, grading states on their ability to report outbreaks of foodborne illness. The more a state reports, the better chance they have of getting it under control. "' ... More >>

Duncan Hines Pulls Questionable Rapping Cupcakes Ad

Thanks to a piece in Mother Jones, "Are These Cupcakes Racist?", Duncan Hines has pulled a YouTube video featuring chocolate-glazed anamorphic rapping cupcakes. Apparently, people think that white cupcakes burstingt into hip-hop beats once they're coated in chocolate might perhaps be a bit questiona ... More >>

The Wine Vending Machines of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has some of the screwiest liquor laws in the country. It also now has one of the screwiest retail gimmicks* I've ever seen: wine vending machines. It requires you to swipe your ID, have your identity verified via camera by someone at a call center and take a breathalyzer test before you ... More >>

This Hanukkah, Walmart Suggests You Try a Ham!

This photo was taken at a Walmart in Scottsdale, Arizona: image viaSilly Walmart, bacon would taste way better with potato latkes.​

Want Some Fish Bladder With That Wine?

Have your wine without the fish bladders! Utne Reader touts EthicalConsumer.com, a subscription website that looks at what horrible atrocities are being committed to make booze in its December issue. Not surprisingly, the bigger the producer, the more likely they are to use stuff like isinglass, a c ... More >>

Wal-Mart Expanding Local Produce Selection

Image via​First, Wal-Mart entered the market for organic produce. Now, the New York Times reports, Wal-Mart plans to expand the amount of local produce it sells. "No other retailer has the ability to make more of a difference than Wal-Mart," the retailer's president and chief executive, Michael T. ... More >>

Walmart Is Evil After All!

Image sourceDavid Warner and Kristine Cortese, owners of City Feed and Supply, with their son.​Several weeks ago, Gut Check regurgitated (ahem!) news of a food experiment conducted by Corby Kummer, The Atlantic's food writer. Kummer had chefs at an Austin restaurant prepare two identical meals ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Monday, 11.2

​ Michigan blueberry producer under fire for child labor violations. (NPR)Company recalls Wal-Mart and Kroger store brand dairy products. (Associated Press)How to increase food production 70% in 40 years. (The New York Times)Humanely-raised veal? Is that possible? (Washington Post)Competitive ... More >>

Jeff Smith and Wal-Mart: A Love-Hate Sorta Thing

​Okay, okay. My last post today on Jeff Smith. I swear! But I just had to share this amusing nugget. As I reported this morning, one of the many subplots in the criminal case assembled against the former state senator and members of his 2004 congressional campaign was their use of throw-away cellp ... More >>

Back in Black: Do exclusive deals with big chain stores help? Only if the band puts in the effort. Just ask AC/DC.

And the Sign Said: Scary Masked People, Need Not Apply

Nas/Talib Kweli/ Jay Electronica

8 p.m. Wednesday, September 3. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard

Malcolm blows his stimulus check on fast food

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 8/21

ALLI

Walgreens
6733 Clayton Road

Shell Game

Over the Hedge wants you to feel bad about what it's selling, which is everything

Under $6

(Wal-Mart, South County)

The Cure

The Cure (Geffen)

Hit the Deck

The toolmakers at Skil want to reward your domestic handiwork

It Goes Without Saying

Our mom always told us not to complain, but even she would give us permission when it comes to apathetic politicians, rights-abusing mega-stores and itsy-bitsy cups of custard

Best Orange Soda

Vess Whistle Orange

What's in a Name?

Let's hear it for the unfriendliest stores in town

Selling Out

To save Maplewood, some residents have to go

Grave Losses

Lax laws and uncaring bureaucrats cause Missouri to erase another prehistoric mound

Best Place To Meet New Friends You Won't Invite Over For Dinner

Colony Theater

Best Record Store

Vintage Vinyl

Where the Heart Is

Directed by Matt Williams

Easy Money

Developers like the Sansone Group are using a state law to rake in millions of tax dollars for retail projects in the burbs. Trouble is, the legislation was designed to help blighted inner cities.

Savage Love

Short Cut

Of Wetlands and Wal-Marts

One development at a time, Missouri has lost 87 percent of its wetlands. And that means more floods, more damage, more levees, more bucks. The story of one Supercenter and how progress comes at a price.