A family-owned grocery store in Longview, Texas, is getting a huge show of support from the community after its owner shared that the business could close in just a few months.
Skinner’s Grocery and Market has served Longview for almost 25 years, but lately it has struggled with financial problems due to changing shopping habits, inflation, and higher food costs. Owner Brant Brantley said his family bought the store in 2001 and has kept it locally owned ever since.
Now, as the store nears its 25th anniversary, Brantley is facing the real chance that the business may not last much longer.
After trying to find other solutions, Brantley reached out on social media and asked the community for help. He urged people to shop at Skinner’s and support local businesses, honestly sharing that the store could close within months.
Brantley said it was hard to ask for help, but he realized that saving the business and keeping his employees working mattered more than his pride.
The community responded right away, and the support was much bigger than he expected.
After the social media post, customers started coming to Skinner’s in large numbers. The store has been busy ever since, and demand was so high that some shelves were empty and the store ran out of several products for a while.
The store quickly worked to restock, scheduling extra deliveries to fill the shelves and keep up with the new demand from customers.
Although the community’s support has helped a lot, Brantley said the challenges at Skinner’s show bigger changes in how families buy food.
In the past year, the store has seen fewer “buggy shoppers,” as Brantley calls them—people who fill a whole cart during a big weekly trip. Now, more customers are buying less or picking cheaper options because inflation and higher food prices are making it harder for families.
The rising price of meat stands out the most. Brantley mentioned beef as an example of how higher grocery costs are changing what people buy. As prices go up, some customers switch to cheaper products or buy less overall.
These new shopping habits are tough for independent grocery stores, which don’t have as many resources as big chains. For a family business like Skinner’s, fewer big purchases can quickly hurt sales and make it harder to pay the bills.
But the new wave of support from Longview residents has given Brantley and his family hope that Skinner’s can keep serving the community.
The impact goes beyond just the Brantley family. The store employs 22 people, so every purchase at Skinner’s also helps support local workers and their families.
Brantley pointed out that when customers shop at the store, they’re not just helping one family business. Their purchases help keep local jobs and make sure the neighborhood grocery store stays part of the Longview community.
Skinner’s Grocery and Market still offers fresh meat, produce, groceries, and more to local shoppers. After almost 25 years in business, the store’s recent experience shows how much of a difference a community can make when people support a local business in need.
For Brantley, the huge response has shown that Skinner’s still matters to many people in Longview. He thanked customers who came to the store, bought groceries, and spread the word about his family’s situation.
As the store restocks its shelves and welcomes more shoppers, Skinner’s future looks brighter. The community’s support has given the store a lifeline and shown how shopping locally can help independent businesses and local workers get through tough times.
Source: Killeen Daily Herald / KTBS
Author: Bethany Nolan, KTBS Contributor
Source Link: https://kdhnews.com/news/texas/longview-grocery-store-owner-says-community-support-is-helping-keep-business-alive/article_e7708b94-6cf8-5aa7-9b99-f156a4346f4a.html
