One more thing on "box stores"
Most of the noise you're hearing about them is related to Wal-Mart, which has committed the crime of not being unionized.
You want to know why the liberals and Democrats are howling about Wal-Mart, find out how many employees they have (about 1.3 million) and multiply by the typical union dues such an employee pays (around $400 a year), and then note that the political donations out of that kitty will flow almost exclusively to Democrats.
If Wal-Mart goes union, the hostility towards the company will disappear as though someone had thrown a switch.