The residents of Wilanów versus Dino. How might this conflict end?
Internet users quickly picked up on the topic and started mocking the typical Wilanów concern for the store's "prestige," laughing that Dino would have promotions on "Louis Vuitton bags" or "shark fins" – because if the store is too ordinary, then at least the assortment must be... ultra-luxurious?
Delousing plant instead of a restaurant on the ground floorProtests by snobbish residents are nothing new, however, in Warsaw or globally. A dozen or so years ago, a commercial property owner in Powiśle attempted to open a restaurant. The residents disapproved of the idea, believing the design wasn't exclusive enough and wouldn't fit the elegant building. After several attempts to accommodate the protesters' expectations and repeatedly rejected proposed changes, the owner lost his nerve. He repainted the windows pink and posted signs reading "Cheap Clothing," "Delousing Facility," and so on. Prestige-conscious neighbors later commented in the media that this caused them health problems.
Residents of the prestigious gated community of Dębowe Tarasy in Katowice decided to make the Żabka store exclusively accessible to them. When a reporter covering the situation attempted to shop, security told him the store didn't serve people from outside the community. This decision was intended to maintain the "exclusivity" of the services within the community and minimize the influx of outsiders. This led to protests and media debate about the privatization of urban space and the excessive selection of services to preserve the exclusive character of the district.
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Similar examples can also be found outside Poland. Residents of an affluent London neighborhood organized petitions and local protests against the planned opening of a large discount store, arguing that such a store would diminish its prestige and negatively impact the neighborhood's character. Despite initial objections, the discount store opened, but the community quickly organized a network of small boutiques, specialist shops, and local markets offering exclusive products, effectively countering commercialization and the influx of mass customers. This local activity maintained the neighborhood's unique atmosphere and became an example of how the community itself can shape the character of a retail space, even despite the presence of large players.
Similarly, in a prestigious New York neighborhood, residents opposed plans to open a global supermarket. They successfully blocked the original project in court. Negotiations with the investor resulted in the creation of a luxury grocery store with a curated selection and high-quality service, tailored to the community's expectations.
In one of Dubai's luxury, branded developments, residents protested against plans to open a standard supermarket, fearing a loss of prestige and traffic. Following intensive consultations between residents and the developer, a compromise was reached: instead of a discount store, a store offering a select, premium product range was created, along with recreational and representative spaces surrounding the store. This Dubai development is known for its expensive residences and luxury amenities, so this solution maintained a high standard of living and further enhanced the area's appeal.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, Canada, one of the exclusive residential areas, residents strongly opposed plans to build a large supermarket in their neighborhood. The community feared that such a store would increase traffic and noise, and negatively impact the neighborhood's prestige and safety. In response, residents organized media campaigns, collected petition signatures, and participated in city consultations to halt the project. As a result, local authorities postponed the project, and the developers abandoned the original supermarket plan.
The unusual outcome of the conflict was the transformation of the planned supermarket into a micro-mall of artisan shops and boutiques featuring high-quality, often locally sourced products. This change not only preserved the unique character of the estate but also supported local businesses and community integration.
The protesters in Wilanów are therefore left with a few options. The first, like in the poem "Paweł and Gaweł," is to "tighten your hat a little deeper" and pretend nothing has changed in the area, ignoring the existence of the new retail outlet; the second is to create a group that will, by pointlessly wasting energy, disrupt the chain discount store's operations with protests; and the third, requiring true commitment and teamwork skills, is self-organization similar to that demonstrated by residents of other global metropolises. Time will tell which option will be implemented.
