/Clarksdale ‘brought home the bacon,’ and landed a new grocer seen as vital to the Delta town’s economy

Clarksdale ‘brought home the bacon,’ and landed a new grocer seen as vital to the Delta town’s economy

Officials have now announced that a new grocery store will be opening in the city. The new grocer will bring fresh, healthy food to residents and the surrounding counties. Jon Levingston, the executive director of Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce, said, “Last Year, if you can all recall, we were taking out our handkerchiefs, and saying goodbye to an grocery store player that was here for decades. Many of us felt that loss.” “Today, we received the promise of a wonderful grocery store, a new option to purchase quality food for our citizens in Clarksdale. “Every community that is financially and economically sustainable has options — choices in housing, choices for grocery stores and good jobs… This is one more piece of an economic puzzle that allows Clarksdale to create a sustainable financial platform.” Residents feared that Clarksdale would lose another grocery store following the closure of Kroger, which was the main option for residents. Many people were shocked to hear the news about its closure. Officials at Kroger cited declining profits at the Clarksdale location. However, the Kroger in Clarksdale was still profitable, stated Mayor Chuck Espy. He also said that the Kroger’s year-end balance sheet showed $17 million in sales. He said that the reason for closing down the store was not that the corporation changed their business model to leave rural communities such as Clarksdale or Third Street, Memphis. Espy said that “Places where there were people without a large discretionary budget, where there was poverty, or high minority population, they pulled away from those communities.” “I understand that they are looking for a higher profit margin… but taking out areas that have been designated as food deserts is devastating to communities,” Espy said. Other stores closed in Memphis. Multiple media outlets reported that a number of Kroger stores have also closed in the last year. This closure has had a negative economic impact on the area. The city’s sales taxes have dropped. According to Cathy Clark Clark, Clarksdale’s city clerk, sales tax revenue has dropped $54,000 in the last four months. Officials say online shopping and Kroger’s loss are the main factors. Sales tax revenue fell $125,000 last year. Clarksdale leaders recognize that despite declining revenue and a decreasing population, new developments such as Piggly Wiggly can be a way for the community to grow, create more jobs and bring in more income. At the January meeting of the mayor and board, Dwan “Dee”, Brown, an economic developer at P3 Group, Inc., announced that the new Piggly Wiggly will be built. It will create approximately 75 jobs. Brown, who is leading the $39 million Corey L. Moore Sports and Recreational Complex, in Clarksdale, announced that Piggly Wiggly would be built at the site. “As mayor, we’ve been in negotiations to take over Kroger. In a telephone conversation with Mississippi Today, Espy stated that all entities thought the Kroger’s footprint was too big. “(Grocery chains) are moving away from big-box stores and moving towards smaller intimate stores,” Brown said. He added that the market study revealed that the equipment in the former Kroger, including coolers and HVAC systems, was older than the latest in 2001. He said that it would be more expensive to remove the old equipment and bring in new equipment or upgrade electrical work. Clarksdale is 38 miles from the nearest Piggly Wiggly. It’s located in Batesville. This Piggly Wiggly supermarket will, unlike others, be tailored to Clarksdale’s cultural needs. It will focus on the blues. “The new store will be a Piggly Wiggly blues city. Brown stated that it will be more than just a shopping experience. It will also be a cultural experience for all who visit. Brown stated that the store will be built to reflect Clarksdale’s culture and heritage. Customers will hear blues music when they enter, while the interior design will reflect this culture. Other amenities include a fuel centre, loyalty program that ties rewards from fuel purchases to shopping, curbside pickup of groceries and delivery to seniors and students at Coahoma Community College. Brown pointed out that CCC students may apply for work studies at Piggly Wiggly. The operations will subsidize the students, which means that students will have additional funds to pay for work study positions. Brown stated that the cost of building the store and the fuel center will be approximately $4 million. The fuel center will cost about $500,000. They want to get new tax credits from the market for the project. The building phase will be started in tandem by the Piggly Wiggly and the sports complex. Brown stated that he expects to start the building phase in tandem if all goes according to plan. He hopes to begin construction on public infrastructure in May and buildings in August. The store will open in January or February 2020. “We’ve been looking at this area for some time and we know there’s an urgent need for a grocery shop in this area,” Tim Chaffin, Piggly Wiggly’s Alabama sales manager, said at the meeting. “Piggly Wigglely isn’t a one-size fits all concept. It is impossible to drop the store in Nashville, Tenn. or Atlanta, Ga. and have the same feeling. Chaffin stated that it is difficult to put something on a shelf for a project this large. Although a preliminary site plan is in place, it is still time-consuming to put infrastructure in place and build the store. Piggly Wiggly, a grocery wholesaler, partners with independent operators, owners, and economic developers. The partnership that created this particular store was between Brown and his partners CORE Construction, Chasm Architecture and Piggly Wiggly representatives. Other communities have also been looking for grocery store options, just like this small rural town. Gloster, a small Mississippi town, had struggled for years to get one. They finally were able bring a Piggly Wiggly into their community. In rural areas of the state, limited access to grocery shops is a common problem. Mississippi is home to the fourth highest level of food insecurity, the federal government’s measure of hunger. According to Feeding America data, Clarksdale’s Coahoma County has the fourth highest rate of food insecurity in Mississippi at 31 percent. This is eleven percent more than the state average. Many people were thrilled to see a new grocery store open in their area. However, some others raised concerns via social media about the store’s location. Mississippi Today’s Facebook announcement about the store received 120 shares and 96 comments. It also received 176 reactions. It would be difficult to reach the Piggly Wiggly store, residents claimed. Brown pointed out that the distance between citizens driving to Piggly Wiggly and citizens going to the old Kroger location is approximately a mile and half. Officials hope to hold a ribbon cutting next year, despite the fact that the announcement was made Monday. “I must say that I cannot pass this opportunity without saying, “Mr. Levingston said, “They don’t call it Piggly Wiggly for nothing.” “They don’t call it Piggly Wiggly.”