When you live in one place long enough it is inevitable that you start to develop a list of favorites. Favorite coffee shop, favorite restaurant, favorite home improvement store and of course a favorite grocery store. Apex is fortunate to have a wide range of options for grocery shopping. For those that like the all-in-one option there is Wal-Mart and Target where you can buy groceries, have a prescription filled, purchase a duvet cover and lawn care all in one spot. For those who like the more traditional grocery store option we have Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Publix, Aldi and Food Lion. But there is one name that is no longer on the list of options, Kroger.
In June of this year, Kroger announced that it would be closing all its 14 Triangle locations by the end of August. Some of these locations, including the location in Apex on Highway 64, will become a Harris Teeter (Harris Teeter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co.). While most have taken the closing as nothing more than an inconvenience, there are others who have taken the loss much like you would when you find out a dear friend is moving away. In a recent poll taken of Apex and Cary moms, the reactions were mixed. Here’s the breakdown:
Total of 950 people responded
423- I don’t care one way or the other that Kroger closed
336 -Bring my Kroger Back!
92 -I’m ok with Kroger closing
38 -I only care about Wegmans
27 -We have too many grocery store options
23 -I’ve never been to Kroger
8 -I’m excited to have another Harris Teeter in the area
3 -I miss having a store in that location, but it doesn’t have to be Kroger
There are many that believe this topic has been discussed enough and everyone should just let it go. But for those who have shopped at this location for years, it is less about location and convenience, or finding the best tasting store brand peanut butter, it is about the people they have come to know and who many consider friends. With the 14 store closures, more than 1,500 employees were affected, many were part-time employees.
Among these employees are several for whom finding a new place of employment may prove a bit more challenging than for others. According to Beth Olevano, a supported employment professional with the Autism Society of North Carolina, Kroger was a champion when it came to hiring autistic adults. In fact, after the store closings, 50% of her case load has been placement of former employees of Kroger. “Many of the former employees are having difficulties transitioning, even within the same employment industry,” Beth said. Part of the job of a supported employment professional is to actually be on the job with those they are helping and assist them with everyday activities that come with a new position. For many, even formulating a task list or making eye contact can be difficult. The Kroger stores in our area, and the Kroger Corporation, allowed for accommodations for those who needed it under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That’s not to say that other companies don’t do the same; they do. In fact, out of the employees that the Autism Society was helping to find new employment, there is only one who has not found a placement.
What’s next for the store formerly known as Kroger? The store is currently undergoing remodeling and will reopen at some point as a Harris Teeter. It is possible that Apex residents will see some familiar faces behind the cash register, but only time will tell. Until then, the pharmacy remains open and is operating as a Harris Teeter pharmacy.
Apex residents are fortunate for so many reasons. We live in a place where people look out for each other and help whenever and wherever it is needed. Our children attend schools where they are cared for and loved by those who are educating them. There are so many places in this country, and even in this state that cannot say the same for their community. So when we complain about losing one of a dozen shopping options, to many, it may seem like a “first world problem.” And perhaps it is, but for those that relied on this one store for their livelihood and considered those they worked with a part of the family it can be a devastating loss. So to all the former Kroger employees and dedicated customers let’s not say good-bye, let’s say “See you around the neighborhood.”
