AT THE END of the month, Jock’s Nitch will close its doors. For more than 20 years, the sporting-goods store has been part of the Emporia community.
Jock’s Nitch provided many services — engraving, trophies, shoes, sporting goods and clothing — but, unfortunately, it did not have enough sales to justify keeping the Emporia store open.
Jock’s Nitch is liquidating the Emporia store and will be investing the money in new stores in Branson and Topeka.
It is too bad that communities like Parsons, Pittsburg and Independence can support a Jock’s Nitch, but Emporia can’t.
An interesting thing happens in Emporia when a store announces it is going out of business. Suddenly, the store is flooded with customers. Emporia is a thrifty community and people seem to pounce with a vengeance on going-out-of-business sales and auctions.
We understand the need to save money and take advantage of a good sale, but we encourage people to shop locally all year long and not just at the going-out-of-business sales. Keeping local retailers in business helps lower our taxes and keeps people employed, so it is a winning situation for everyone.
Let’s rally to keep local stores packed with shoppers all year long and not just when they are going out of business.
HHH
Speaking of business closings, our community is accumulating a few vacant gas stations around town. Pumpin’ Petes closed a couple of weeks ago and the Shell station on Eaglecrest Drive closed last week.
If you look on the east side of town, there are closed gas stations on Sixth Avenue and 12th Avenue. Some of these buildings have been vacant for quite a few years and are turning into eyesores.
If this trend of losing gas stations continues, city leaders will need to take a look at what can be done to either help get these properties sold or converted for other uses.
Let’s make our community shine by getting these business spaces occupied again.
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Any positive feedback crack, or is this all you have?
Steve
June 17, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Why can't all the health fanatics keep a business open like Jocks nItch? Wierd.
June 17, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I quit shopping Emporia first a long time ago, I refuse to support this city after the fiasco that is our courthouse and the failure of not being able to attract new industry. But then again I live in the country.
June 17, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Fed X and UPS seem to be doing a land office business in Emporia. Lotsa online shopping out there.
June 17, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mum318 (anonymous) says...
I quit shopping at Jock's Nitch years ago. The sales people were never in a hurry to help me- even if I was the only customer in the store at the time. They were too busy talking about their social lives.
June 17, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
cant help but notice that Jocks Nitch and the gas stations werent smoking establishments that were effected by the smoking ban. Sometimes when several similar buisnesses go out, that indicates there were too many of the same to begin with. More industrial jobs that pay a living wage would surely create more local spending.
June 17, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truelovecharlie (anonymous) says...
I would say the best thing about a tight economy is the fact people will have to step up their customer service. People have been too willing to spend money in stores with horrible customer service. Time was each customer was treated as thought the store would not survive without them. Now those stores with poor customer service and "we can survive without you" attitudes are having to go back to the basics or close up shop. My greatest wish would be that WalMart would go back to basic, unfortunately; in the future WalMart may be the only place left. I personally will pay more and not shop WalMart, due to their attitude of thinking we can't live without them.
June 17, 2009 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Jock's Nitch suffered from very poor service, and poor selection. Mike's and Hibbett's seem to be doing well.
I believe you should shop Emporia first, but not if the employees working in a local store treat you as if you are an inconvenience.
June 17, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
More industrial jobs that pay a living wage seems to be the one thing the city of euphoria is completely unable to attract. Might be because their large, non-college student, workforces have no place where they could go enjoy a few drinks and a meal topped off with a smoke.
But not to worry.....when the masses start moving into this jobless community just because you are now free to go out for a drink and a meal without a cigarette.....as we have been promised that they will......then boom times will be here again. So buck --up buckos...good times are just around the corner. CAE has promised us as much and the city commission, or at least three of them, delivered their part.
I personally am just waiting for the money to start rolling in.
June 17, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
truelovecharlie......I sure agree with you about service. I am old enough to remember when most stores in town were owned and operated by people who lived here. They cared if you were happy...and they damned sure cared weather or not you came back. And it showed.
Then came the enlightened era of corporate ownership and local nimwits behind the counter who cared less if you lived or died as long as you didn't die there causing them to have to interupt their conversation with fellow nimwit. How many times have I cursed myself for thanking some zombie behind a counter that barely took my money while giving me no more than that blank, stupid looking, thousand yard stare in return.
I was not familier with Jocks Nitch, having only shopped there a couple of times. But with little thought I could easily identify several business here that operate as described...and the sad part is many of the barely pubescent managers that operate these places are very little better than nimwit staff.
June 17, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
I think the business closures are due to the fact that Emporia is essentially seen as "crappy version of McPherson". Now there is town roughly the same size as Emporia where industry has been attracted and the people seem happy. I don't know if you can smoke or not, but if you are leavin' Emporia...
June 17, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Should have read, "now there is a town..."
June 17, 2009 at 5:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kuSportsPA (anonymous) says...
Just a Question: Anybody know Who sings the "Shop Emporia First" Song? Is it somebody from Emporia, or did the Emporia Radio Stations buy the song from somewhere outside of Emporia, hmmm... just something to think about.
June 17, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Cheeselog sang that song. They are kinda local, they're from Olpe. I guess that's not local since they can't vote here. Close enough though, if'n ya ask me.
Seriously R. Folks
June 17, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truelovecharlie (anonymous) says...
Just like "fast food" restaraunts; you got your food faster in the day it was cooked as you ordered it and there were far less people working there then. Now, they cook it up way ahead of time and keep it in a holding bin, then nuke it as you order it. The quality is far less than it use to be and the service is pathetic. I have always complained and then spent my money elsewhere when things didn't improve. I suggest all consumers give their local shops an opportunity to improve by personally voicing your complaints to the top management and then boycotting the establishments if improvements aren't made. The almighty dollar speaks loud and clear.
June 17, 2009 at 8:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/jun/17/...
Emporia is growing!
June 17, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Suggestions for other Emporia retailers; Offer what the public wants at reasonable prices, Don't open a business that offers the same merchandise that a dozen others already offer(unless you can beat the competition's prices all the time), and most of all hire competent staff.
Jock's Nitch, the multiple closed C-stores, and fast food restaurants failed miserably at all three.
There are many stores/businesses in Emporia I have been to once and will not return to after seeing how high their prices were and how poor their service was.
Supply and demand Chris, not pay their price to keep them afloat.
June 17, 2009 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nmse_s (Shannon Standard) says...
This is coming from a person who had shopped at Jock Nitch because they are local: I'm not surprised Jock Nitch closed their doors. The prices were outrageous compared to what we can find at Hibbetts, Penny's and places in Topeka. Even during this going out of business sale, prices are still high. But that is the run of the mill here in Emporia. Our mom & pop (or "smaller") stores have to have higher prices to stay open, until the cash (or credit) runs out. As far as their service, I don't remember. I particularly don't like someone bugging me while I shop, if I truly need help I ask for it.
June 17, 2009 at 10:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I remember a seein' a might powerful amount a folks runnin' in their tennyshoes down town holdin' their "Vote Yes/to health with the smokers signs" and many many of them tennyrunners had blowouts. I bet a handfull of them folks went inta that thar Jocks nItch and purchased themselves some new tennys fer the runnin' and what not. I don't sees myself many o them folks much these days. Maybe thats gots suem ta do with the closin' n' such.
Seriously R. Folks
June 17, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nmse_s (Shannon Standard) says...
Seriously,
You're funny...that's all I got to say about that!
June 17, 2009 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I can't argya with that kindy logic.
Seriously R. Folks
June 17, 2009 at 11:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nmse_s (Shannon Standard) says...
For a person with that kind of dialect, "logic" seems to be too big of a word.
But your better half is right...crack just can't leave the smoking ban thing alone!! That's just funny right there, I don't care who you are!
June 17, 2009 at 11:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
I really think the downfall of Jock's Nitch was the new location that it chose more than anything else. The location they selected pretty much sealed them off from any random or overflow shopping traffic, thus eliminating a large portion of their impulse buyer income. If they had stayed at the mall or even chosen a real downtown location closer to some other retail business they would probably still be in operation.
June 18, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
They did have a boom in business around March when all the healthy healthy health advocates were on their health kick and trying to make bars healthy. The healthies had to by a lot of shoes because they wear them out and they had to get rid of the evidence, in case their shoes left tracks when they were vandalizing "vote no" signs. You know, you gotta break a few laws when trying to make more of them or somthin like that. Maybe it's eggs and cake? Whateva.
Seriously R. Folks
June 18, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Shawna (anonymous) says...
Shopping locally and shopping locally-owned is important. While Jock's Nitch wasn't locally owned, they were at least local.
Check out this website: It's the 3 50 Project -- spend $50 at 3 stores per month to help boost the local / locally owned retail front.
http://www.the350project.net/home.html
Although I'm not much of a shopper, I do put forth the effort to shop locally AND locally-owned, even if I know my dolllars will go further at the cheap discount stores.
Just a thought... Where does your money go when you spend it?
June 18, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nmse_s (Shannon Standard) says...
The Vote Yes signs were vandlized too. It happened on both sides so maybe the unhealthy people were trying to make up for their smoking habit by ruining their shoes too, going around and messing up the signs. (Oh yes I haven't forgotten that non-smokers voted No too). I miss your accent Seriously!! :)
June 18, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I rekon tha differnce bein that the ones vandalizin' tha "Vote yes" signs twerent tryin' to make new laws whilst breakin' existin' ones. Still wrong but atleas less hypocritical.
Seriously R. Folks
June 18, 2009 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
I shop locally when I can afford to, but with this economy who can afford not to shop where its cheaper? However, customer service will go along way towards helping me choose to shop somewhere that is more expensive and I did not receive good customer service at Jock's Nitch. We bought my son's letter jacket through them and they took Months to get it done.
Also, I am very loyal to local owned stores because I like the unique items I can usually find at them. I shop at them whenever I can afford to and sometimes when I can't. I would be more likely to shop at local chains if there was something here worth shopping at. Wal-Mart just doesn't cut it for me, in fact I avoid that place like the plague.
June 18, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Hear Pete's and Shell Station will reopen soon under same ownership
June 18, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zippy (anonymous) says...
I went into Jock's Nitch at different times to find certain items or just see what they had available and every time I left I told myself I woundn't go back because of the very poor service I rec'd or lack of it. The store was not busy the times I went in. I was never acknowledged with a "Hello" or "Can I help you find something or a certain size." Pretty much just ignored. When I made a purchase once, the two employees were busy visiting and I felt that I was interupting them. I tried giving them several chances but I only left agitated and decided it wasn't worth it. I do like shopping Wal-Mart, JCPenney and Cato because they are clean, affordable and the staff are willing to help you.
June 18, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )