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Owners of longtime local grocery appeal to council for help as competition cuts sales
Summary
Owners of a local, family-run grocery told council the business has fallen into the red since a new discount store opened; they said the store employs about 18–20 people and asked the city and EDA to convene to explore support and potential buyers.
During the public-comment period on July 14, owners of a longtime local grocery described mounting financial pressure after a new discount store opened nearby and requested the city’s help in finding buyers, investors or other supports to keep the store operating.
One speaker described being a third-generation grocer and said the store has been in the town for 11 years but recent months have pushed operations toward non-profit margins. The owner said the business employs about 18–20 people and that equipment and inventory are available to a buyer as a turnkey option. “It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride,” the owner said, adding that the store’s margin loss after the new store amounts to roughly 10% of business that is hard to recoup.
Council members agreed to add the issue to an upcoming Economic Development Authority (EDA) agenda and to invite EDA representatives to a follow-up meeting to discuss options, including supplier outreach and potential coalition efforts. The mayor and others encouraged the owners to attend that EDA meeting and staff said they would notify the owners of the scheduled EDA discussion.
