Falling short

By Staff
Jan. 29, 2003
The corporation seems to have made up its mind to close the Meridian Big K/Kmart store but it was still encouraging to see local folks making their voices heard. A petition drive to keep the store open garnered hundreds of signatures from Kmart customers who will be saddened by the store's closure.
And, early last week, U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., obviously concerned about the loss of jobs and the blow to local economies when Kmart stores close in Mississippi, also weighed in. In a letter to Kmart officials, Lott said, Kmart stores in Meridian, Jackson and Yazoo City the ones that will be shuttered "play a vital role in their communities. Through jobs, job-related benefits, sales taxes, payroll, and increased retail opportunities, these stores contribute to the quality of life for many of the residents of these Mississippi cities."
But even Lott said be recognized the reality of certain business decisions that Kmart has been forced to make.
We are living in tough and changing economic times when many of the business institutions we once respected WorldCom, Enron, Kmart are either going away through acts of fraud and dishonesty or are attempting to reorganize through bankruptcy.
Kmart fits the latter category; no one has suggested the once-giant retailer is the victim of anything other than intense competition from chains such as Wal-Mart and Target.
Perhaps Kmart will re-emerge as a stronger, leaner company and its Meridian store's shelves will one day again welcome blue light specials and shoppers from every walk of life.
We hope so, but don't bet the ranch.