Is it better to shop at locally owned stores than Wal-Mart or Meijers?

It depends on what you consider "better". If you want to support locally-owned shops (that are often in competition with bigger chains) then the answer is "yes". If you want to support your local community then the answer is "maybe", as a large chain store like Walmart may be contributing more financially through community programs, taxes, etc., to your local economy. If "better" equates to "cheaper" for you, then whoever offers the best price would be the best place to shop.