I am commenting on (and not surprised by) THIS article in the Denver Gazette. Before my commentary, let’s get you my Five Bullet Brief…
- Natural Grocers has announced the closure of its Capitol Hill store in Denver due to ongoing challenges with retail theft and safety issues affecting performance.
- The store, located at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Washington Street, will officially close its doors on October 31, with discounts starting this Friday to clear out inventory.
- Efforts have been made to tackle these issues through security investments, but they have not been enough to ensure safe and sustainable operations, prompting this difficult decision.
- Employees at the closing location will have opportunities to transfer to other nearby stores, although some may face layoffs, with severance and health benefits provided.
- Founded in 1955, Natural Grocers operates 169 stores across 21 states, with 46 locations in Colorado, affirming its significant presence in the organic food retail sector.
This is in Capitol Hill, you know, by the capitol. The heart of the city and state. Where laws are made and stuff. Just to make sure you saw what leapt off the page at me…
The Lakewood-based grocer said it will close its 1433 Washington St. store after struggling with “retail theft and safety issues impacting the store’s performance.”
The Denver Gazette
How I read that line: They’re tired of getting ripped off, losing money, and having their customers and employees harassed by the people who are ripping them off.
I don’t blame the police, but you do have to wonder why the bad guys aren’t being stopped. Inadequate law enforcement capacity? Inadequate laws to be enforced? Or the social compact is broken and bad guys don’t give a crap?
We have been actively working to address the theft and safety issues impacting our store at Colfax and Washington for some time. Despite our investment in security and loss prevention strategies over the years, these factors have continued to challenge our ability to operate our store safely and sustainably, and we have made the difficult decision to close our doors at this location.
Kemper Isely, co-president of Natural Grocers, via a press release
Bottom line: We give up.
Lawlessness. Underfunded law enforcement agencies shackled by inadequate statutes and codes to enforce. And I’ll just say it (although I have no proof, but it is a sound assumption), a porous southern border floods the streets of Denver with too many people looking for too few jobs and places to live.
Welcome to Denver.
Have you been to downtown Denver lately? I had a meeting at the capitol recently, and in a one-block radius surrounding the People’s House, I saw things that didn’t make me feel overly safe or welcome – and it was 2:00 p.m. It’s just me, but I wouldn’t want to live there.
