Apple Tree Building Owner Neither Affirms Nor Denies Wal-Mart Food Store Going In Ocean Beach Site

How’s that for a sensational headline?

Actually, there is a rumor in Ocean Beach there a Wal-Mart food store is going in at the old Apple Tree Market building on Santa Monica Avenue.

And the OB Rag is trying to track down answers.

Messages – email and phone calls – were left at the Wal-Mart corporate HQ seeking answers.  I did not receive any response all day from Wal-Mart.  And no answer today either.

Today, I called Elliot Megdal and Associates – the owner of the building in OB. I spoke to his assistant Debra who is fairly familiar with all his business. She knew about the Apple Tree Market and empty store.  She was very polite.

I assured her that Mr Megdal had spoken to me last Fall.  “In fact,” I said, “Mr Megdal told me that he had no plans to demolish the building.”

“That’s news to me,” she said, un-reassuringly.

I asked about whether their office could affirm or deny that a Wal-Mart food store is going into the old Apple Tree Market building.

“Mr Megdal can neither affirm or deny that,” she said. “Besides we can’t comment on any lease until it’s signed,” she quickly added.

“What if it’s already signed?” I asked. Debra didn’t have an answer for that.

I then called Don Moser, the name on the ‘for lease’ sign affixed to the top of the old market.  All I got were answering machines and voice mails.

So, there you have it. It’s very difficult trying to get answers from corporations. We don’t know whether the rumor is true or not.