Ohio is Closing Store by Store

I have admitted to living in the country, outside of Xenia, Ohio.  Now, let's learn to pronounce Xenia.  It is ZEEN-ya.  Not to be confused with Xena Princess Warrior.  We have already heard the joke so stop before you even go there.

There are approximately 24,000 people in Xenia and the median income per household is $34.000.  Why does anyone live there?  It's obvious.  No one can afford to move.

But businesses move out of town all the time.  I guess I can't blame them.  No customers, no profit.

If you live in a town this size or drive through one, you know that there is usually an old grocery store in the center of town.  Or an empty building where it used to be.


Fulmer grocery store, in the heart of Xenia, Ohio, will be one of those buildings by the end of July.  I have mixed emotions about this. 

My sad feelings are for the employees, many of whom have been there for years, and for the senior citizens who are able to walk there from several apartment buildings in the area.

Flip the emotion coin and part of me doesn't care.  The building is run down and the prices are high.  To be honest, the only reason I went in there was because...wait for it....the LIQUOR STORE is in Fulmer.  Of course I only buy alcohol for those wild parties I throw cooking purposes so I'll panic survive. 

So, the building will be empty.  Probably forever.  Xenia will have another downtown eyesore. 

Do you have one of these in your town?  The empty Wal-Mart?  This building will be empty forever too.

There are a couple of stores left in this strip mall.  Gotta have the Dollar Tree.

Kroger is at the opposite end of the strip mall.  We love our Kroger in Ohio.  The double coupons, the 10 for $10 sales, the friendly staff....

My bagger yesterday told me that he treats his wife like a queen.  He takes her to White Castle.  We have funny guys in Ohio.

Rumor has it that Kroger plans on building by the new super Wal-Mart across the road.  And then there will be another empty strip mall and then everyone can move farther out again and then there will be another empty...oh heck.  Stop me.

This is the vacant video store at the entrance to the  Kroger strip mall.  Vacant, abandoned, hollow, for lease, no one home...you get the idea.

Just to reassure you, Xenia is not totally empty.  We still have fast food and convenience stores.  No matter how bad it gets in Ohio, we have to get our calories, lottery tickets, cigarettes and beer. 

One more thing.  In case you plan on moving to Ohio, you need to learn two things.  Kroger is Krogers and Wal-Mart is Wal-Marts. We like plurals. 

You don't want people to think you talk funny, do you?  Oh yea, your car is your veeehicle.  Heavy on the veeee.  You are now better prepared for life in Ohio.  Pack your bags.  We have space for you.