TYLERTOWN — Walthall County supervisors agree that Tylertown needs another grocery store, but there are obstacles to overcome in recruiting another food retailer.
Fred Lambert, a Tylertown alderman and owner of American Appliance, asked supervisors about prospects for a new grocery in light of announced moves by the county board to purchase the building of the now-closed Sunflower store.
Hurricane Ida “showed how unprepared this town is for a disaster: with only one grocery store,” Lambert said. “This should be a unified effort. I believe this town can support two grocery stores, and I hope you’ll join hands with us.”
Lambert noted that it’s not just Tylertown residents that shop in town, but citizens from all over the county and even outside the county.
“American Appliance would go out of business if people didn’t come from out of town to shop,” he said.
Supervisor Lloyd Bullock assured Lambert and other concerned citizens at the meeting that he believes the town should have another grocery store, and the county has not closed on purchasing the building yet.
Bullock said the building, if the county buys it, would be used to create more space for court or other offices, and Supervisor Ken Craft said the sheriff’s department also needs more and better space.
“All options are still on the table,” Bullock said.
Lambert noted that the city would lose part of its tax base if the county buys the building. Supervisors agreed that the county might do as well building a new building, especially for the sheriff’s department. but the condition of the building now is an impediment.
“The refrigerators and coolers for a facility like that are expensive, and they’ve all been removed from the building,” county economic developer Pam Keaton said. “It’s just a shell of a building.”
Craft said, “People from the grocery stores came to look at the building and were, like,” with a stunned expression.
Keaton said she had been in contact with a number of different companies and sent information about the town and the building, but received little interest.
“It’s difficult in the midst of COVID, and they look and see if they think they can make a profit.
“I believe the town can support two grocery stores. It has before.”
The Link LonkSeptember 11, 2021 at 06:03AM
https://www.enterprise-journal.com/local-news-top-stories/tylertown-hard-pressed-2nd-grocery
Tylertown hard pressed for 2nd grocery - McComb Enterprise Journal
https://news.google.com/search?q=hard&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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