Retail closures continue to mount
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The announcement last week of the closing of the Community Grocers (CGI) store adds to a dim picture in retail sales as Ringgold County enters a new year.
The January 26 closing of CGI will bring the number of closed business locations on or near the city square to seven.
Chief among these is the vacant building at 201 N. Fillmore that most recently served as a Shopko outlet. The building is advertised for lease or sale at an estimated $950,000. A regional broker, Cushman and Wakefield, is representing the sale.
The former Farm and Home location at 116 N. Taylor is offered for sale for $149,000 by Creston Realty.
Creston Realty also represents the vacant storefront at 121 N. Taylor that formerly housed Mitchell Drug and Jewelry. The asking price for this location is $70,000.
Across the street from the Farm and Home location is the vacant cafe at 115 N. Taylor that most recently was home to the Crazy Heifer. This location is listed at $52,500 with South Central Iowa Realty of Mount Ayr.
At 102 N. Fillmore sits a two-story brick building that has served as an optical shop and upstairs apartment. The asking price for this structure is $34,900 as posted on the Southern Iowa Realty.
The former Greggo’s restaurant location at 103 W. Monroe remain vacant. As represented by Southern Iowa Realty, the structure is for sale at $99,000.
Considering the loss of sales tax income from these seven businesses, the challenge facing city and county leaders in the new year is to reverse this recent trend of decreased retail diversity in the second-least populous county in the state.
