MORAN — It was a night of tough love.
Either shop at the Marmaton Market, or Moran’s lone grocery store will close by the first of the year, if not earlier.
“This is a very difficult conversation,” admitted Brenda Boyle, chairman of the Market’s board of directors. “But people need to understand what we stand to lose.”
Boyle addressed a group of about 20 who gathered at Moran’s Community Center Thursday night to discuss the market’s plight.
“We’ve got debt, and we can’t keep racking it up,” said Boyle.
When pressed as to just how much debt the market is carrying, fellow board member Debbie Bearden said, “If we closed the doors right now, we’d have enough assets to break even.” That includes selling the building and its inventory.
The store needs to make $1,200 a day to make ends meet.
“Most days we’re close, but not always,” said Bearden.
“With a town of 200 households, that means spending $20 a week at the store,” said Boyle. If that were to happen, “We would not only make it, but we’d be thriving.”
Boyle also pricked at people’s consciences.
“From a purely Christian and community mindset, would it hurt you to spend locally?”
For Jackie Walls, shopping at the Market has been a challenge.
“It’s very frustrating to go there and see the shelves so bare. After a few times of not finding what you need, you stop going there,” she said.
Walls also complained about being told certain items would be in the next delivery, only to find they had not.
The comments provided store manager Marilyn Logan an opportunity to explain the challenges of operating a small market.
