Perry City Council member Dr. Randy McCaulley took the opportunity at Monday night’s council meeting to thank the Shopko Hometown variety store in Perry for its years of service to the local shopping community and to lament the chain store management’s recent decision to file for bankruptcy.
“I think that was a corporate decision to file for bankruptcy and liquidate their stores,” McCaulley said, “but I’d like to thank Shopko here locally. I think they did a great service to our community. They were well managed by Jim Lutmer and his staff. It’s a big loss for our community.”
McCaulley said he hopes another business will soon fill the gap that Shopko’s closure opens in the Perry retail sector.
“I know from talking to Sven that we’re working on some things to try to fill the void, but that’s a big void to fill,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be successful in coming up with some other options that meet the needs of the community. I think locally our Shopko did well. It’s unfortunate it was a corporate decision because I think locally here in Perry the Shopko store was successful.”
Perry Mayor John Andorf supported McCaulley’s commendation of Shopko and agreed Perry shoppers supported the private business.
“I just want to reiterate,” Andorf said, “it was not that Perry wasn’t supporting Shopko. I think we were, as evidenced by the fact it was one of the last stores to close. We did support Shopko. It’s just a corporate decision, unfortunately. They’re going bankrupt.”
Shopko Stores Operating Co. LLC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 16. Perry’s Shopko Hometown store is slated for closure June 16.
Has anyone considered there will be no place in town now to buy shoes? The last two pairs I’ve bought were from Shopko. The quality was good and the price was not unreasonable. I don’t look forward to making a special trip out of town just for new shoes. Personally, I don’t mind spending a little bit more to shop local. Doubtless, shoes will be more expensive elsewhere and service will be lousy in the metro.