Chetopa Residents face grocery shopping challenges as local store closes

CHETOPA, Kans.- The only grocery store in Chetopa, Kansas is closing.

Chetopa Foods and Deli, a key grocery store in Chetopa, Kansas, is set to close its doors before the end of 2024, leaving residents concerned about the impact on their community. Kevin Vaughan, an employee for three years, shared that the decision to close was made by the store's owner, who has been preoccupied with other responsibilities. "It's been a long time coming," Vaughan said, noting that all employees have secured other jobs in anticipation of the closure.

The owner, a New York resident and truck driver, has yet to set a specific closing date. According to Vaughan, the owner's busy schedule has delayed the decision-making process. "He's too busy, actually, I think, to actually sit down and think it over right now," Vaughan explained, highlighting the owner's split focus between his trucking duties and the store's performance.

The closure of Chetopa Foods will force residents to look elsewhere for their grocery needs, with the nearest alternative being a grocery store in Oswego, 9 miles away, and the closest Walmart located in Coffeyville, 28 miles distant. "If we leave, it will hurt the community," Vaughan stated, emphasizing the inconvenience and potential hardship for residents who rely on the store for their daily necessities.

Jerry Dye, a Chetopa resident dealing with mobility issues following an accident, expressed his disappointment over the store's impending closure. "People are going to have to go farther now to get the same produce that they were getting from the store," Dye remarked, concerned about the additional burden on those with limited mobility and fixed incomes.

Dye also reflected on the broader implications for the town, viewing the grocery store's closure as a significant blow to Chetopa's vitality. "That was part of the nail in the coffin," he said, lamenting the loss of a crucial community resource. The closure symbolizes a deeper challenge facing small towns like Chetopa, as they struggle to retain essential services and maintain their community's health and cohesion.

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