September 28, 2019 at 6:02 a.m.
For groceries, perspective matters
Editorial
It’s all about perspective.
“We need a grocery store” has become a regular trope in comments on our Facebook page. Often, it’s offered on stories that have zero connection with whether a grocery store will or will not come to Portland.
Before we move on, let’s get one point out of the way. We are not, in any way, saying it wouldn’t be great for Portland to have a grocery store the likes of Aldi, Kroger, Ruler, Pay Less or any of a number of other chains.
That being said, Portland does have a grocery store — Walmart. Yes, it’s part of a SuperCenter that also has auto supplies, clothing, housewares and hardware. And yes, it may not be the grocery store of our dreams. But it is a grocery store nonetheless.
The same cannot be said for many of Portland’s neighbors.
Dunkirk doesn’t have a full-service grocery store. Neither does Redkey. Neither does Pennville, or Bryant or Salamonia.
In Portland, if we need groceries of any kind, we don’t have to leave the city. The same cannot be said for the other municipalities in Jay County.
Instead, they have to drive to Portland, or Muncie, Hartford City, Winchester, Berne, Bluffton or perhaps Ohio to do their grocery shopping.
Our point here, again, isn’t that Portland shouldn’t have or want another grocery store. It’s simply to point out that we should be aware of the amenities we have easy access that others do not.
Lifestyles range widely throughout the country. New York City is vastly different from Indianapolis or South Bend or Portland.
Those who live in suburbs like Carmel, Zionsville or Greenwood likely would find it difficult to imagine having only one local grocery option or needing to drive 10-plus miles to do their grocery shopping.
So while Portland residents are right to continue to hope the city is able to entice another grocery option to come to the community, they should also understand that they remain in an advantageous situation as compared to their friends in other communities in our county.
It’s all about perspective. Having another grocery option would be great. But in the meantime, at least we do have an option. We’re not going to starve. — R.C.
“We need a grocery store” has become a regular trope in comments on our Facebook page. Often, it’s offered on stories that have zero connection with whether a grocery store will or will not come to Portland.
Before we move on, let’s get one point out of the way. We are not, in any way, saying it wouldn’t be great for Portland to have a grocery store the likes of Aldi, Kroger, Ruler, Pay Less or any of a number of other chains.
That being said, Portland does have a grocery store — Walmart. Yes, it’s part of a SuperCenter that also has auto supplies, clothing, housewares and hardware. And yes, it may not be the grocery store of our dreams. But it is a grocery store nonetheless.
The same cannot be said for many of Portland’s neighbors.
Dunkirk doesn’t have a full-service grocery store. Neither does Redkey. Neither does Pennville, or Bryant or Salamonia.
In Portland, if we need groceries of any kind, we don’t have to leave the city. The same cannot be said for the other municipalities in Jay County.
Instead, they have to drive to Portland, or Muncie, Hartford City, Winchester, Berne, Bluffton or perhaps Ohio to do their grocery shopping.
Our point here, again, isn’t that Portland shouldn’t have or want another grocery store. It’s simply to point out that we should be aware of the amenities we have easy access that others do not.
Lifestyles range widely throughout the country. New York City is vastly different from Indianapolis or South Bend or Portland.
Those who live in suburbs like Carmel, Zionsville or Greenwood likely would find it difficult to imagine having only one local grocery option or needing to drive 10-plus miles to do their grocery shopping.
So while Portland residents are right to continue to hope the city is able to entice another grocery option to come to the community, they should also understand that they remain in an advantageous situation as compared to their friends in other communities in our county.
It’s all about perspective. Having another grocery option would be great. But in the meantime, at least we do have an option. We’re not going to starve. — R.C.
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