Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,
I just finished reading the sad story in the March 18 edition of the Anchor that announced the closing of the grocery store in Grafton after 27 years in business. The people in that little town will now be forced to travel for groceries.
It brought to mind one of my concerns about Northwood: those who don't shop at Fallgatter's because they feel the trip to Mason City or Albert Lea is more to their advantage or more interesting or more something else. I'm not talking about an occasional trip to buy something special; I make those trips too when I need an ingredient that Fallgatter's doesn't carry. After all, it's a small store compared to the big boxers and shelf space is at a premium.
I'm referring to those residents of our community who simply won't take advantage of the resource we have right here in town. Which big box store has real butchers who will cut meat to special orders if needed? When I make jerky or the Italian dishes that need special cuts of meat, Jason has always been more than happy to cut what I need.
Or how about a delivery service that will bring the food to your door and (in the past at least, not sure about with the new owners) would even carry your water softener salt down to the basement and load it into the softener if you were elderly or not able to lift those heavy bags?
Which checkers know you by name and greet you as friends when you enter the store? Not the big box stores I've shopped in!
We have a little gem in our local supermarket. If we don't shop there, we will lose it in the future and, like the people of Grafton, have to travel in all weather for the groceries we want and need. Senior citizens who no longer want to or are able to drive the 17 miles to Albert Lea or the 25 miles to Mason City will be forced to depend upon others or the transit bus to get their groceries. Or they would need to buy the limited amount of food that is available at the dollar or convenience stores, at whatever prices the stores feel they can charge.
I would not be truthful if I said I NEVER shop anywhere else but I get at least 80% of my groceries right in Northwood. The prices are competitive, the sales are good and the meat is excellent! I don't want to lose our grocery store; I don't want to go down the tough road that Grafton traveled because sales kept declining. Give it some serious thought.
Sandy Olson
Northwood