Two Short Stop convenience stores and a Godfather’s Pizza restaurant have closed in Emporia.
The Short Stops at 812 E. Sixth Ave. and 1120 E. 12th Ave. closed Tuesday. Signs on the doors of both stores referred customers to the chain’s other locations on Merchant Street, Industrial Road and U.S. Highway 50.
The stores are owned by Leiszler Oil of Clay Center. Allison Leiszler of Leiszler Oil said 11 workers were affected by the closings and that the company would try to find places for them elsewhere.
“Basically, with volatile fuel prices and high credit card fees, some stores can’t compete anymore,” she said.
The stores were formerly part of the S&S convenience store chain. Leiszler Oil purchased and renamed the stores on Jan. 3, 2005, along with five others owned by S&S in Emporia, Lebo and Council Grove.
The other locations will remain open, Leiszler said.
Godfather’s Pizza at 1120 Commercial St. closed last weekend. Fred Spellman, who owns the building, said he was told by the company’s corporate management that the pizzeria had become unprofitable.
“He told me he was losing more money than they could afford,” Spellman said of his conversation with Bruce Cannon, Godfather’s vice president of franchise development, real estate and construction in Omaha, Neb. “He said he was better off paying rent with the doors closed.”
The former Godfather’s site is available for rent, Spellman said. He said he had had no contacts to mention so far.
gwen_kinsey (anonymous) says...
I was one of those 11 employees who got a wake up call to be told that our stores had closed down. I mainly worked at the 1120 E 12th location, but I also filled in and put in my fair share of hours at the 6th and Lakeview store. I was supposed to work that day.
Fortunately I have been positioned in another store, due to the loss of an employee at the store. But I am just wondering how many of us they will be able to place. I have come to know the employees of both stores and became well acquainted with most of our customers.
I have to say I will miss seeing my regular customers, and I know few of them outside of the store, but I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to them. It was just so unexpected and we had absolutely no notice about our store closing. I just wish I had a chance to say goodbye to those certain customers.
Gwen Kinsey
February 15, 2007 at 9:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Phil_Dillon (anonymous) says...
Gwen
Like everyone else in town I was sorry to hear about the closings.
The economic climate in Emporia isn't good and we need to refocus the city's attention on getting good paying jobs here. We can't survive when our median household incomes here are 25% less than the Kansas average and 40% below national averages. We can't survive as long as our povery rate remains as high as it is (12.9% for a household and 17.(% on an individual basis).
It's no wonder that retail is struggling also. There is too little in the way of disposable income to support vibrant retail.
If you're a voter, I'd appreciate your consideration and vote in the city commission primary on the 27th. I want to be a voice for positive changer here,a voice for a better economic and cultural future for this city.
February 16, 2007 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )