Wal-Mart's Sphere of Decadence

So you never thought you'd see "Wal-Mart" and "decadence" 2 words apart? Don't worry, it's not what you think. In a classic case of irony, Wal-Mart's corporate culture of humility is being overshadowed on their home turf by the wealthy executives of Wal-Mart's own suppliers. The fact that Wal-Mart has anything resembling humility is news to me but apparently that is the culture ordained by founder Sam Walton.

In typical crack-ho to crack-den fasion, Wal-Mart's supplier companies have all gone scurrying to Arkansas to open offices around Wal-Mart headquarters in Benton County. The influx of wealthy executive types has resulted in an up-classing of the area so that it's now reminiscent of the newcomers' native Blue States.

Walton's spirit of restraint is harder to find ... at Fusion, a new fine-arts gallery that sells $2,500 abstract paintings and $1,200 urns. Or at the nearby Landers Hummer dealership, crowded with $62,000 sport-utility trucks. Or inside Shadow Valley, a gated community where four-bedroom houses fetch $1 million.
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The result is an unprecedented migration of high-paid executives to the northwest corner of Arkansas -- professionals from amenity-rich cities like New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and Miami, who bring not only their six-figure salaries, but an appetite for Jaguars, sushi, pet day-care centers, Gucci shoes and Chanel sunglasses.

A million dollars for a 4 bedroom house in Arkansas? 'Nuff said.