There is no “they”
“The Great American in Oxford will be closing very soon. It will be a big loss to the community. What are people who don’t drive or senior citizens going to do? The town fathers need to get busy to find someone to take their place. They should have been on top of this before it happened.”
Woman from Oxford
I couldn’t disagree more, Woman from Oxford. I’m all for blaming our local, state and federal governments for just about anything, but I can’t count among their responsibilities providing me with a decent grocery store in close proximity.
And yet, every time a business closes, or when a larger chain opens, the knee-jerk reaction of the people seems to be to blame the “town/city fathers” for “allowing” a business to close, or “allowing” a big box retailer to come in and crush the little guy. Someone on our ES Forum a few months back blamed the Norwich BID for “allowing” the sale of Eckerd’s to Rite-Aid!
These issues are not the purview of the government, folks. Familiarize yourself with the concepts of free enterprise and capitalism before you admonish the government for not being more involved in business. Sure, governing bodies can make an area more attractive to businesses, they can enact laws and tax structures that make it easier to actually do business here, but they cannot – and should not – make businesses come here, stay open, or stay away.
The closing of the Oxford Great American is surely a great loss to the community (or, more precisely – the lack of a decent, clean and friendly full-service grocery store is a detriment to the village), but its impending closure is a business decision. For whatever reason, I’m assuming that it was no longer profitable for that business to operate in Oxford, so they’re closing for good in August. The operators of that store were under no obligation to inform the “town fathers;” nor, do I believe, is it the obligation of the “town fathers” to find a grocery store to replace it!
For years I’ve fielded comments to ‘30 Seconds” saying “they” should put in a Target. Or “they” should put in a Ponderosa, Old Country Buffet, Microsoft chip plant, you name it … and I always wondered who the caller thought “they” was. There is no “they.”
Town of Norwich Supervisor Dave Law has enjoyed an embarrassment of riches lately in new business ventures coming to the town, and while I’m sure he aided in the process, I highly doubt that he (or any other elected official) is what “brought” Lowe’s to town. Lowe’s came to town because Lowe’s thought they could make a buck here. Great American is skipping out of Oxford because Great American can’t make a buck there. Stop and think how it works before you go blaming “they.”
July 25th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Right on Jeff.
July 25th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Welllllllllll—maybe “they” should update their web site and tell people there is no longer a grocery store in Oxford. You know ,not just people in Chenango County go to that site. Someone from out of the area may think “Hey, here’s my chance to get away from the rat race and provide Oxford with something they obviously need and want”.
July 25th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Maybe “they” don’t own the website.
July 25th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Maybe “they ” should find out who does and get together with them. People in small town should work together for the better good of all even if they don’t hold a public office!!
July 25th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Good idea. Let us know how it works out!
But yeah, the oxfordny website is a good one, but the village doesn’t run it. Some very nice, civic minded people do. When the Dollar General opens, I am sure it will be included in the site.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Don’t know what you’re talking about. There are no other websites besides evesun.com.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Word up, Jeff.
evesun.com is like electronic crack.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Yep, the gubmint ought to do somtin here! The scariest thing is that all these constitutionally illiterate folks are allowed to vote.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Let me offer a different perspective - the frustration we hear from the public when a business leaves can also be contributed to a lack of leadership to maintain a growing economy. For example, Norwich BID had nothing to do with the sale of Eckerds – obviously. But what has Norwich BID done recently to help businesses bottom line? I think it’s fantastic the entertainment brought in the city sponsored by BID – but have they also looked into economic grants and other programs offered by the state to expand business. The city of Norwich needs an economic leader – not an entertainment director. What this area needs is an image for businesses to want to come here – not one of how soon they could get out from here! The Chamber of Commerce, the city of Norwich, BID, and any of the other multitudes of agencies out there need to change this image. Should they “try to make businesses come here” – no. Should they work hard in trying to make this area attractive – yes. Does this public see this hard work – no – its need to be reported on. That is my humble opinion of the frustration you hear.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Good points, Silas. I’ve just always been more of the mindset that the less government interferes with business, the better. When government becomes too entrenched in the interests of the business community … oh heck, I’ll just say it one word – Halliburton.
As far as what the BID and Chamber do for the community, we report on their activities often … on today’s (8/1) front page in fact … http://www.evesun.com/chenango-county/news-stories/2007-08-01/2367/Main-Street-grants-give-downtown-Norwich-a-facelift..
August 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
locally owned and operated takes on a whole new meaning at oxford GA. i’ve been in GA in oxford, greene, and bainbridge. while i cringe at high prices, the one i am most willing to revisit is the greene GA. it is clean and the employees are helpful and friendly.
oxford GA employees act like they don’t even want to be there. except for the other day when i was in there. the employees were making a last ditch effort to be like greene GA because they knew they were unemployed in a few days or weeks. they were all busy bees making sure people were happy and helped out.
amazing, i never heard one peep out of anyone around me in the checkout line complaining about losing this place to a dollar general, nor did i hear anyone compliment the workers for busting their bums either!