NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) – The announcement of more Shopko stores closing in the Fox Valley has various officials concerned.
The announcement Wednesday that more stores are closing included a handful from the Fox Valley.
Officials in Neenah are experiencing a feeling of uncertainty.
“The longer you leave a building empty in your community the faster it deteriorates, so we’re concerned about that,” says Neenah Mayor, Dean Kaufert.
Beyond that, he’s concerned about the negative trickle-down effect that it might have on nearby businesses and shops.
“A store like Shopko brings in, draws in traffic that then utilizes the other businesses in that strip mall so there’s an impact,” says Kaufert.
Fortunately, he thinks its location will be attractive to a new business.
“There’s a whole host of ideas of people we’d like to send out feelers to and tell them we have this space available, and that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to move forward,” he explains.
While officials in Kimberly are concerned about the needs of their residents.
“We heard loud and clear from our residents that they want a pharmacy and grocery store back and I think that’s where our focus lies,” explains Village Administrator Danielle Block.
When you add in a shuttered Pick N’ Save it appears that residents might have to hit the roads towards elsewhere for certain things.
“Whether its pharmacy or things like that, people will have to travel further and with the grocery store being gone, it’ll leave a mark,” she says.
Block adds that since their boundaries are next door to each other it’s possible the area could fold into their riverfront development.
She’s concerned about the state’s dark store policy that could allow other companies to pay lower property taxes if the building stays empty for long.
Shopko sent a statement to Fox 11 News about its bankruptcy process Tuesday night, which said in part, “…through our conversations with the potential buyers, it has become clear that it is in our best interest to operate with a significantly smaller store footprint. We remain hopeful that we will be able to emerge as a stronger company. And we believe that this is the best course of action to make ourselves more attractive to potential buyers.”
