the economic blight worsens

[mellowtigger]

An hour or two after yesterday's post, I learned that this Aldi's grocery is closing in a few days. It's my main grocery, and it's within walking distance, but it will be gone by the same time next week. The Subway sandwich shop in that same building is already closed and gone. I've seen a NextDoor claim (therefore unverified) that the owner of the building wants to do some renovations, so business rentals are not being renewed. No idea what might eventually replace it someday, which doesn't help now at all.

Additionally, my Walgreens pharmacy will be closing sometime next month. It was bad enough worrying about vet care for my cat. Now, I'm not sure what to do for essential needs for myself.

People online have plenty to say.

"Minneapolis needs to figure out how to fix North. ... Food deserts continue the cycle of poverty."
- Reddit, by username "autobahn"

"On Lowry & Penn we had Paradise Grocery, and later there was a Piggly Wiggly (Ithink) and later Kroger where the current Aldi’s is located. At Lowry/Penn there was Mellin Drugstore, Post Office, Frank’s Bakery, Barber Shop, Baxell Photography, Maid-Rite, and further South on Penn there was a small one-man butcher shop who sold first rate meats. We had regular buses that ran every day on Penn and on Lowry. Further east on Lowry was Ennen’s Grocery which had McClary’s Meat Market in the store; we bought most of our meats and groceries there and used Paradise for daily pick up essentials. Almost all of that is gone now. I know things change, but communities need basic things like grocery store, drugstore, post office, barber etc.
- NextDoor, by username "Nancy Csi", from farther west of here, outside Minneapolis

I call my area of north Minneapolis the warzone, for good reason. Already in 2023 so far, it's where the city's homicides are clearly concentrated. I already know that life is rough here, with so many people self-medicating and falling to despair or nihilism. That much is already clear. Why, though, is life getting more complicated instead of less? I want to do the right thing, living without a vehicle, reducing my footprint of consumption on the planet. I want to find a 100% remote job, so I don't risk SARS-CoV-2 exposure. It seems, however, that the gods of capitalism require more sacrifice. *sigh* Amurrika!

edit 10:25am: I used online forms or email to contact Aldi's, my state rep, and my city rep. That intersection is on the bus rapid transit line and literally has 2 undeveloped properties on its north corners. (That's me in the photo on page 2 on one of those properties during a community meeting, pre-pandemic.) Why isn't somebody building business there? Surely someone can help encourage the resources this community needs?

Comments

[foeclan]

https://www.startribune.com/aldi-to-close-its-north-minneapolis-store-one-of-the-areas-only-full-service-grocers-next-week/600249570/

Based on that, Aldi wanted a bigger store, but couldn't do it there, and the building's owner is looking for other grocers to fill the spot.

In a statement to the Star Tribune, the company said: "Aldi has made the difficult decision to close our store at 3120 Penn Avenue N. in Minneapolis due to the inability to renovate the store to accommodate our larger product range and our current lease term expiring."

...

Wellington Management is talking with other grocers, hoping to fill the space.

"We also know it's an important location for folks shopping in the community and being able to have access to high-quality produce, in particular for a good value, so it's a loss from our perspective and from the broader community's perspective as well," Wellington said.

[mellowtigger]

I'd heard that. It sounds like "marketing speak", but I simply don't want to believe the naysayers who insist it was store theft as the actual reason. :( In my years of shopping there, I never saw theft, and the guards at the exit were always pleasant. For now I'll take corporate Aldi's at their word, which is why on the Aldi's feedback form, I mentioned both empty lots at that same intersection on the rapid transit line. One could be parking and one could be shopping, if they need that much space for their planning. An even larger Aldi's would be a huge benefit to the northside. :) It would take years to happen, which doesn't help me in planning my post-car life here. *SIGH*

[dewline]

You just drove home how much privilege I currently still have, just from living in my own corner of the world. The malls within walking distance, my access to transit...even with the cutbacks we've had as a result of the Pandemic...

[threemeninaboat]

We bought this house specifically because it is one block from: the grocery, store, bank, post office, hardware store, walgreens, auto parts, porn, 2 liquor stores, 3 different margarita restaurants..
The hardware store, post office, and bank moved out but still have grocery.