Photo (above): Owner of Heartland Market, Nick Graham, addresses those gathered to hear from him and Presidential candidate, Tom Steyer on imminent closing of store
Photo: Amy Haskins is unsettled by a light-hearted atmosphere in the discussion around the expected closure of Heartland Market in Manning.
Presidential candidate, Tom Steyer, made a stop in Manning Thursday at the Heartland Market. He was there with owner, Nick Graham, who made national news about 14 years ago when he purchased his first grocery store at the age of 17. He is making news again, but now for the closing of all but one of his six locations. Steyer wanted to discuss the food deserts that are being created, particularly in rural areas, but the focus shifted when a Manning resident took offense to the nearly 31-year-old Graham’s attitude. Amy Haskins said she appreciated him being there, but…
Haskins said they don’t know yet if there is someone to buy this business, but added they were told at one time the Manning store would not be one that closed.
Graham said he is sincerely sorry she feels that way, but he has worked diligently for over a year trying to rectify the situation.
When everything is consolidated under one parent company, when there are areas hemorrhaging a lot of resources, Graham said, it pulls under all the other areas that are just treading water.
Steyer identified three pillars to a town: a health center; a school; and a grocery store. The idea that the community of Manning will lose one of these is scary.
This is something Steyer says he is dedicated to fighting if he wins the presidency, and we will bring you more on that in upcoming newscasts. Graham neither confirms nor denies that he has taken a position with Hy-Vee, but rather states his path is not yet decided. The Ackley store is the only one Graham says is not a mess at this time. He closed the Rockwell City location on Jan. 1 and the same fate is imminent for Jewell, Rockwell, Gowrie and Manning. Manning is currently selling off inventory and will remain open for an indeterminate amount of time. Local leaders say there is some interest from a private buyer, but in the event that one cannot be found, they may consider a community-owned market, as is being done with the Gowrie store. These leaders also say they have done a lot of research into the significance of this closure and found that if a viable option to keep the store open is not found, Manning could be the only community in the United States that has a hospital and no grocery store.
