All the discussion about the possibility of Dollar General moving into Grand Marais and the comparisons to Walmart leave out an important piece of the equation. It doesn’t just follow that Walmart or Dollar General moves into a town and local businesses close. People of the community have to shift their purchasing away from the local businesses and to these big box stores. They are ultimately responsible for the closings if all the people who sign these petitions and are opposed to these corporations truly believe in buying local would continue to support their local businesses.
If they do this and avoid the big box stores there would be no cause for concern.
What happens is that people want to save a little and don’t seem to understand their part in all of this.
People also have to be aware that businesses such as Dollar General are beholden to their stockholders. If they are not profitable they have no ties to the community. They can close at any time leaving the community without some of the businesses (employers) they had previously.
Nancy Wasik
Bemidji/Gunflint Trail
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