Harp's will be missed
I'm sad to see that Harp's Food Stores has decided to close its branch on North Thompson in Springdale. I've been a customer there for nearly 30 years.
This store serves an area that for the most part is relatively low income. Over the last few decades many grocery stores in poor and rural areas of the country have closed. This has created zones referred to as "food deserts." These closings have left few alternatives other than convenience stores to buy food, and most of that is higher-priced "junk food."
With the closing of this store, people who live nearby will have to travel at least two or three miles to find a real grocery store. This may not seem like much to most of us, but I've noticed that a good number of the shoppers at Harp's on North Thompson walk from nearby apartments. The store itself is getting on in age and I imagine there may be some issues with the building. The profit-and-loss statement probably plays into the decision as well.
From what I've seen over the years, Harp's has always been a very community-minded, locally based company. No doubt it's too late for them to change course, but perhaps they may still find some way to serve this area of town and a segment of our population that has a need.
CHRIS BROTHERS
Springdale