Fort Wayne, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – A negative status update from the Kroger Company on the North Anthony Scott’s grocery store may have many area residents upset.
According to Central Division President Bob Moeder, “While we continue to negotiate with the Rogers family, who are the owners of the building in which our North Anthony store is located, we now know that the building may be beyond repair. Engineers and other professionals have investigated and are evaluating options with the current landlord. First, we are committed to ensuring that no Kroger associates in the Fort Wayne region will lose their jobs as a result of the store closing. We know this also is a priority for our customers and neighbors in Fort Wayne. All associates from the North Anthony store have been temporarily reassigned to other locations. Whether customers choose to shop at those other locations while we seek a permanent solution on North Anthony will have a direct impact on those associates. Second, we need to conclude our negotiations with the Rogers family so that we know whether to plan toward a new building on North Anthony or modifying one or more nearby Kroger stores, including North Clinton Street, to accommodate customers from the North Anthony store. Either way, we will work with neighborhood groups, elected officials and the city administration to be fully operational as quickly as possible.”
“Ultimately, however, the final decision rests with the Rogers family. They own the property, they must decide whether to invest in a replacement building and they will determine whether or not a replacement building is designed to host a successful Kroger store or some other tenant. The Rogers family is preparing options for our consideration and this process may take several more weeks.”
Recently city and state officials along with community members hoped a letter could convince the Kroger Company to re-open the Scott’s store on North Anthony.
State Rep. Win Moses (D-81) and City Councilman Russ Jehl (R-2) have joined forces with area neighborhood presidents and their associations to write a letter requesting that the now-closed Scott’s grocery on North Anthony be re-built.
Councilman Jehl says, "The 4,000 property owners in these close-by neighborhoods have supported this grocery store through myriad incarnations over the past six decades. They rely on it as a friendly, walkable neighborhood store where they and employees are a family of sorts. They don't want that to disappear. It's a distinct and unique market that needs to remain.”
"We certainly hope that this large show of support will convince the good folks at Kroger Company to see how restoring this building and its service to these neighborhoods will be well worth their effort," said Representative Moses.
It will cost at least a $1 million to restore the building.
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