Stratton, Neb. Business Provides Model For Other Towns

From southwestern Nebraska comes an encouraging story of a small community coming together for the common good. More importantly, the story highlights a unique business structure that could serve as a model for business ideas aimed at reviving Main Street Dorchester.

The McCook Daily Gazette reports that the new grocery store in Stratton (population 400) plans a grand opening celebration Saturday, offering food specials and samples to entice new shoppers and express appreciation to old shoppers who have returned. Stratton Country Market is a re-creation of grocery stores from the community's past 35 years or so. But this time, there are a couple of twists -- twists that could insure the community support that is vital to the survival of a small-town business: Stratton Country Market's paid staff is supported by a core of volunteers, and all are Stratton-area residents bent on keeping open a local grocery store.

Store manager Gladys Brockway said the community's volunteerism and willingness to support the local effort is what allowed the grocery store's doors to reopen. Several local residents, calling their group StratCom LLC, purchased the building and some equipment at an auction in August 2006. Neither StratCom nor the Stratton Chamber of Commerce could find anyone with the resources to reopen and manage the store, so it sat empty.

Gladys said during the summer of 2006, she realized that not only did Stratton residents need a grocery store, but if the community ever wanted to attract new residents, a grocery store was going to be a must. She went to Stratton banker Bill Zahl and said, ""We need to get a grocery store. And I'll help."

In August and September, Gladys and a group of interested citizens started the groundwork and research necessary to reopen the grocery store. With the support of a group of Stratton citizens -- shareholders and many, many donors -- a new corporation called "Stratton Foods Inc." began the process of leasing the property, purchasing new equipment, improving the electrical system and installing new refrigeration equipment in the last half of 2007. A $70,000 loan from a Hitchcock County community development recapture loan program also helped with start-up costs.

It took a community effort of volunteers to get the store ready to open, Gladys said, "The whole community pulled together to do this," she said -- starting in September 2007 with cleaning, repairing and painting. New floor coverings, new registers, a new price-scanning system. A new office. A new sign. On top of the county loan and in addition to the labor and time it donated, the community kicked in about $112,000 and more than 50 volunteers.

Gladys had $65,000 to stock the new store's shelves, she said, and she studied and studied the Affiliated food book. The store threw open its doors for its first customers Jan. 9, 2008, and the response has been wonderful, Gladys said. "We've seen community support," she said. "We're pleased with the number of shoppers."

The paid staff includes Gladys as manager and Val Rogers as assistant manager, and clerks. "No one was on the payroll until the store opened and turned its first dollar," Gladys said. The store has been open a month now, and the community spirit continues: Volunteers go to Bird City, Kan. every Monday and Thursday to get groceries off the Affiliated truck, and, back in Stratton, unpack the products and stock the shelves.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Joyce Johnson of Stratton pushed her grocery cart up and down the store's aisles. She is delighted with the way the store looks -- so bright and so clean. Joyce said she shops here often, " ... because we lost the store once, and I don't want to lose it again."

The Times believes this story serves as a reminder of the importance of shopping locally. Moreover, Stratton's community-owned grocery store serves as a business model that could be used to bring more businesses of all types to our community. The possibilities are endless when individuals bring their time, talent and resources together for the betterment of the community.