Let’s see, we’re out of lettuce … And some fresh asparagus would nicely go with that steak we are having for dinner. I’ll just add those to the list and get them when I go to the grocery store this afternoon.
And since I live in Oak Park, that’s what I do. I go to the grocery store. I have several grocery store choices in Oak Park.
But, if I lived in Maywood I wouldn’t have those choices.
Maywood residents had only one grocery store in town, Aldi at 215 W. Madison St.
But that store shut its doors. Why? Reportedly, that store sold the least of any Aldi in Cook County. Another reason is that property taxes at this location have gone up 80 percent over the last six years.
When this store opened in 1994, Maywood officials showered Aldi with all kinds of tax breaks and incentives to the tune of many, many thousands of dollars.
But, while tax breaks and incentives were enough to bring Aldi into Maywood, they apparently weren’t enough to keep Aldi in Maywood.
And that’s a pity.
I grew up in Maywood. And Maywood had grocery stores then. In fact, both my brothers-in-law-to-be worked in Maywood grocery stores evenings and weekends.
But as has happened to too many neighborhoods over the years, food stores have withdrawn from less affluent neighborhoods and communities. This has resulted in the creation of food deserts, an awful name for an awful fact.
There are some towns and neighborhoods without grocery stores, which means without immediate access to fresh food, vegetables, fruit, meat.
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So, people don’t eat?
Of course they do. And while the Maywood Aldi did the least business of any Aldi in the county, Maywood’s 24,000 people are getting food from somewhere.
They probably are driving to grocery stores in other towns.
If they can. But, there are many people – elderly, infirm, ill, poor – who don’t or can’t drive to another town. That’s a big reason why food stores should be nearby for everyone, everywhere. Availability of fresh food should not be a luxury.
Aldi says it will provide transportation to other stores for shoppers with mobility issues. And that is nice. But it is a bandage solution at best, and a temporary one at that.
Until the day comes – if it ever comes – that food and other necessities are available to all, Maywoodians can come shop with us in Oak Park.
Welcome neighbor.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.