On April 20, the local Price Chopper closed its doors to its faithful patrons. The store had been undergoing financial hardship for the past four years since the opening of its nearby Brunswick location, approximately one mile east. “Most customers abandoned this store for the newer store in Brunswick,” says Mona Golub, manager of public relations and consumer services. This was the primary cause of the declining profits.
Golub commented on the consumer advantages of relocating to neighboring Price Chopper locations. She believes that compared to Hoosick, consumers will “have a greater choice of products.”
Hoosick was unable to accommodate the expanded product list due to its small size. The location, was 29,343 square feet, whereas other store locations are at least 56,000 square feet. As a result, the full platform of services offered by Price Chopper stores are limited or non-existent at Hoosick. This presented another reason for a decline of sales, particularly after the opening of the Brunswick location.
“Initially, we made a commitment not to close the store,” said Golub. “We had created many solutions.” Of the multiple solutions created, they provided a pharmacy, a video rental location, and a full deli at the request of the community. All of these were provided despite the fact that, “sales still failed to meet minimum standards.”
On Thursday, community members and the Rosa House organization protested Price Choppers’ decision to close its doors. They argued that Price Chopper had a “community relations obligation” to keep the store open.
Golub disagreed with such an argument declaring Price Chopper’s loyalty towards city neighborhood locations. “We have a commitment to continue operating urban stores as long as they remain viable. But there does come a time when you have to look at reality,” he said.
“Because of this move there will be no supermarket in a three square mile radius of a city with 50,000 residents. What are these people going to do? Where are the elderly, disabled, and college students going to shop?” asked community organizer Eric Dallie.
While Price Chopper has a new superstore near the Hudson Valley Community College campus and another store in Brunswick, Daillie said that many of the Hoosick Price Chopper customers did not own a vehicle and that access to these sites would be at least inconvenient and most likely difficult.
“If they do not want to serve the needs of these customers that is fine. But why then does Price Chopper deny access to food to these shoppers by holding the lease on the 29,343 square foot store,” said Daillie. This action allows Price Chopper to block another chain from moving in and servicing residents, he said.
