The Wal-Mart. Has. An Escalator.

Wal-Mart cartscalator

One place you'd rather not see Wal-Mart rollback something.

We hadn't been in the Crossgates Commons Wal-Mart for awhile, so it was a surprise when we happened upon the escalators that now sit in the middle of the store. They're like waterfalls in the middle of a jungle clearing -- you see a big whole in the floor and hear the sound before you realize what they are. The Washington Ave Extension store is currently in the middle of a re-model that includes expansion into the space left over from the Sam's Club -- you know, the one to which no one seemed to want to join.

closeup of cart riding Wal-Mart cartscalatorBut, wait, there's more! After you get over the shock that there's an escalator in the middle of the Wal-Mart, you notice that not only can it transport people, but carts, too (which makes sense). As one guy standing by the escalator exclaimed while we were there this afternoon: "Hey, look at that! It's an escalator for the carts!" We had just about the same reaction. But it prompted a question: what do you call such a device?

We're pulling for "cartscalator."

Comments

Why would you go to....... Walmart?

Good question. We'll have the answer on Thursday.

The Target in Seattle has one of these "cartscalators" - very cool.......

It seems obvious to me that this escalator alone is a reason to go to Wal-mart. I came upon this island of escalation completely unexpectedly last week. It was as if I was Henry discovering the Hudson and the cart was my Half Moon.

These escalator/cartscalators are not a new item for Wal-Mart. There is a Wal-Mart in Mississauga, Ontario that has had one of these people/cart movers for quite some time. From your picture it does look like they have been redesigned. The above mentioned store in Ontario has a large "grocery checkout belt" that both you and your cart ride together. Quite the experience!

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