Bringing big retail to the small town is something the mayor believes would work here, and the Village Board wanted Wal-Mart to know it was welcome.

The third try could prove the proverbial charm in the Tri-Lakes.

Wal-Mart fought and lost to public opposition in 1994 in Lake Placid and in 2006 in Saranac Lake.

"Why not Tupper Lake?" Desmarais said candidly. "How many communities can put something in the middle of their village with a waterfront park?"

Nobody is saying for sure it's even Wal-Mart that is interested.

"We just want to let Nigro do their thing. We're welcoming business to Tupper Lake," Desmarais said.

TUPPER VISION

In a telephone interview, Nigro Vice President Steve Powers said they "do have interest in the Tupper Lake area."

The apparent reserve exhibits stark contrast to a lively dialogue by Tupper Lake's Revitalization Committee, a community-based action group, which produced a vision plan last December.

When asked if Nigro has met with Tupper's revitalization group, Powers said no.

"We haven't progressed far enough to be able to work with them at this point."

The vision, compiled by Camoin Associates, encourages mixed-use development to connect two ends of Tupper Lake by the end of 2009.

It looks to mixed use -- retail, restaurants, a conference center -- as "an anchor facility in the heart of the community."

Powers said Nigro recognizes the value of mixed-use facilities.

"It certainly is the future of our business," he said, without divulging whether it is part of the Tupper plan.