Keeping the Local Grocery Store

“M&J’s Grocery, like other small stores in North Dakota, is struggling to survive. With a mobile society, additional competition, and diminishing rural populations, sales have been declining,” was how the Wimbledon, ND Newsletter described the town’s only grocery. Wimbledon has declined to only 237 people in the latest census. Its medium age is 42.5 compared to the national average of 35.3. It is probably at a “tipping point” as a community, where unless it can stop its population loss and bring down its medium age, it risks dwindling away.

I was in Wimbledon earlier this year and listened to many citizens concerns about keeping their town vibrant. We specifically talked about M&J’s Grocery because of the age of the current owners, who started the business 50 years ago when they were young people. Mike & Judy Schlecht have tried to develop a niche as a wholesaler of sausages, jerky, beef sticks, smoked port chops, cottage bacon and ground chuck, which they sell in a number of neighboring communities. However, the business is marginally profitable and is at risk of closing.

I hope that Wimbledon is able to develop a plan to keep this important local institution operating in the community. Saving M&J would be a major step in keeping Wimbledon as a vibrant small town.