Chicago Alderman Demands Grocery To Not Close

NBC TV Chicago reports:

The closing of a North Side grocery store is causing a big stir.

The Jewel at 5129 W. Belmont is tailor-made for Polish and Hispanic customers, and is the only place some residents can get their groceries and prescriptions.



The Jewel store targeted for closing has been a fixture in Belmont-Cragin for 50 years. The closing has some residents calling for a boycott of the Jewel grocery store chain, owned by Supervalu.

Alderman Ariel Reboyras of the 30th Ward said he will boycott Jewel "if that's what the community wants."

"What happens when some marketing study is produced in a far-away corporate office and the decision is made to close a store? The effect can be devastating. What accountability do these big chain stores have to the neighborhood? Where is the guarantee of a smooth transition to a replacement store?" asked Reboyras in the Chicago Sun Times.

Alderman Reboyras doesn't understand how markets work.A store closes because it's not profitable.This maybe a very difficult concept for many in Chicago to grasp.But,heh, in Chicago virtually anyone can be an Alderman even "made members" of the Chicago Outfit.