Local grocery store closing
By Kevin Dye
Staff Writer
The dream of having a local grocery store in the Village of West Jefferson has turned into a nightmare as West Jeff Finer Food owners have decided they no longer have any recourse but to liquidate their stock and close their doors.
West Jeff Finer Food just opened its doors this past March, filling a more than three-year void of not having a local grocery in the village. However, a construction company accident in May, tied to the Downtown Enhancement Project, caused the power to be cut to the village for more than 12 hours. Store owners said that resulted in $300,000 in losses for the store as dairy, produce and frozen food items were ruined by the outage.
The losses have turned into a protracted legal battle between West Jeff Finer Food owner Nedal Aburokbeh, the company that allegedly caused the power outage, and its insurance company that has refused to pay for the accident. It has left Aburokbeh with no options until the case is settled, he said.
“This is very hard for us to do, but we have no other choice,” Aburokbeh said. “We have started liquidating our stock this morning and will sell everything in the store and then close our doors. This is very sad.”
Aburokbeh and his attorney filed a suit in court on Friday to try to recoup his damages, but the legal process will not be a quick one. While facing this scenario last week, Aburokbeh said that time was not on his side.
“It is not good,” Aburokbeh said. “We hired a new attorney, but if it takes a lot longer it won’t be good. We are in trouble, seriously. If nothing comes through by Monday, we will have to think about liquidating stock. We are just losing money every day.”
West Jeff Finer Food operates the way many grocery stores operate by obtaining their grocery products from vendors on credit and they repay as the goods are sold. The cycle of credit/repayment is constantly turning over, but there is no way a small, fledging grocery store can absorb $300,000 of loss for the mishap of others. As the store starts the liquidation process, Aburokbeh hopes that he will eventually be able to open his doors again to serve West Jefferson once the legal issues are settled.
“We will liquidate all of our stock in the store and then we will close and wait,” Aburokbeh said. “We will hold onto the building lease and the equipment and see if there is a legal solution. This is very hard on all of us.”
The store’s closing not only affects Aburokbeh, but the many residents in the village employed there. West Jeff Finer Food employed close to 30 individuals at its peak, but over 20 of those had to be laid off during the legal battle this summer. The rest of the staff will be unemployed once the liquidation is completed.
Please shop at this grocery store. The prices are comparable to other grocery stores in the area. At least stock up on items you will need this winter – canned goods, dry goods, etc. Let’s help these people – they were here for the community – it’s time the community comes through for them.
TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHOM HAVE LEFT COMMENTS HERE, HOW THEY HATE TO LOOSE ANOTHER GROCERY STORE.I WORKED FOR PETE KITCHEN AS HIS MEAT MANAGER THE LAST 5 YRS HE WAS OPEN I SAW THE NEW KROGER OPEN IN GALLOWAY ,THE THE NEW WALMART IN LONDON OPEN AND HIS BUSINESS GO UNDER. NOW I HAVE KNOW THIS MAN NADAL AND HIS FANILY FOR THE LAST 4 YRS AND HAVE RAN HIS MEAT DEPT SINCE THE STORE OPENED IN FEB. AND WATCHED AS PEOPLE GO ELSE WHERE OUT OF THIER COMMUNITY TO SHOP AGAIN. SHAME ON ALL THE PEOPLE IN WEST JEFF YOU CAN NOT BLAME ANYONE BUT YOURSELF. BUT REMEMBER WINTER IS COMING AND WHEN WE HAVE 6-8 INCHES OF SNOW AND HAVE TO GO UP RT.40 OR INTO LONDON FOR FOOD , REMEMBER THAT LITTLE STORE NO ONE WANTED TO SHOP ….
Another sad day for WJ. I agree with Sarah, the mayor and council need to take steps to save our grocery store….also, the construction company needs to step up and own up to their mistake. Its been so nice just to run in town to get some last minute items you may need….again, our money will be dished out to stores in Columbus, Galloway or London. What’s wrong with this picture? Why can’t we keep our money in our community?
As for those who will be losing their jobs, another addition to our unemployment in Madison County. For the owners of the store, I certainly hope the legal system does what its supposed to do and protects your investment.
Just hate the thought of NO GROCERY STORE once again!! Ugh!
Well said Emily. We need that store
This is typical reaction from any insurance company. They will do anything and everything possible to get out of assuming their responsibility to pay a claim when it is very obvious that their insured is at fault. By definition an insurance company is in business because they are willing to assume the risk that an individual or company is not. Also by definition, the insurance company has a responsibility to be fair and process claims quickly. They do not have the responsibility to stall, lie, cheat, and ignore the facts in order to abrogate their responsibility to their insured and to the claiment. Its is tragic that a business that is needed has to go out of business and 30 people have to be without jobs because these crooks won’t live up to their obligations. Pay up fools.
This is so sad. Many residents have grown to rely on the store. It was like nirvana once we had a grocery store. Nice to run and get few things if they had been forgotten during a grocery trip. Nice to stop by when kids need medication. Granted, there is a Family Dollar but they don’t always carry what items are needed.
Shame shame shame on the council and mayor for not standing up for this man to help recoup his loss. Shame on the construction company for refusing to pay for their foul up.
The entire situation could have been avoided if the construction company hired competent personnel to drive the vehicles.
So once again, I will be spending gas money to go to Hillard to do the bulk of my grocery shopping OR get my baby supplies.
Those who are employed at WJFF, it is a huge shame considering unemployment is at record highs. I certainly hope they can find employment. If not, hit up the construction company for your cut of the money.