West Mtgy. Residents Turning to Other Grocers After Calhoun’s Closing
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West Montgomery residents are still learning the news that Calhoun Foods, a grocery store that’s been in the area for more than 30 years, is closed. Now, residents are weighing their options when it comes to where they’ll now get their groceries.
This all happened so suddenly. There was no warning and many people are still showing up to Calhoun Foods expecting it to be open. They say they hope another grocery store will come in its place.
Calhoun Foods has been out of business for one day. In just that short time, the store’s sign has been taken down and trucks are parked outside, with movers hauling items out of the store.
“We feel very disappointed.”
It’s a day Bernard and Dora Alexander never anticipated. They say now that Calhoun Foods has closed, they’ll have to travel even further to buy groceries.
“Now we got to go way up there to Piggly Wiggly,” Bernard says.
And they say, that’s too far for people in their neighborhood, many whom are elderly.
“Especially if you ain’t got no car,” Dora says.
“Fairview is too dangerous for them to walk way up there,” Bernard explains. “The elder can’t walk way up there.”
For others, like Adrian Jackson, Calhoun’s closing marks the end of an era.
“It hurts,” he says. “It’s a part of the black community.”
He says he too will have to look elsewhere for groceries.
“It’s all about Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, but most people kind of just like go to Cash Saver or something.”
The store’s closing has had an impact on neighboring tenants.
“Because of Calhoun closing, Family Dollar is out of bread, won’t have none until tomorrow,” Dora says.
Residents say they hope another grocery store takes it’s place and soon.
“We definitely need another grocery store.”
“It’s sad though because that’s a part of history,” jackson says.
As for why the store closed, we spoke to Greg Calhoun today by phone.
He says he’s been debating closing the store for the past five years.
He says the market is now over-saturated with grocery stores but he says he regrets having to close because Montgomery has been so good to him.
This was the last Calhoun Foods store in the Montgomery area. There are two others left – one in Selma and one in Tuskegee.
