Re-Establishing Food Retail in St. John, Kansas

Presenters lead a session that highlights a case study on developing a new grocery facility in a town of 1200 people. They describe what it took and the lessons learned, such as defining the size of the market; feasibility; and compensating when the market isn’t big enough to justify the investment they want from a public policy/town survival viewpoint. Some perspectives gained during the experience include conducting a market study; the value of a Citizen Committee; the real issue of population decline and job creation; how other businesses can be incorporated into the store (such as fuel, laundromat, liquor store, cell phone provider, etc.); the need for an experienced established operator; and what it takes to build a business and keep grocery stores going