u/IdlingGoldCrow

I have worked at Widmers for years and this is my story.

Our beloved, beloved store is one of character, life, and was, for a while, avoidant of the corporate greed many of us so despise. In recent times, I’ve discovered the truth on what has been happening.

Problems arose from 2 main events - the closing of the failed Bloomington Oxendales, which likely cut deep in the flow of profit, and the closing of the West St Paul oxendales, which exacerbated that wound. A few workers got moved around thereafter the latter closing, who came in and took hours and opportunity away from us, not their fault inherently but that of the Oxendale brothers. They have cheated on everything. They do not pay their suppliers. They owe an inconceivable amount of money to so many people, even though they have bought expensive cars and houses for themselves and their families. We have had numerous checks bounce. Some guys came in and took our carpet for christ sake, just because they aren’t paid!

It wasn’t always like this. The business flourished when it started, but because of the growing wounds and greed, it has fallen apart. They do not have the money to replace the parts for the freezers/coolers, or perhaps they don’t know how to run a business. Probably both. They will do anything but reinvest into us, the workers and the customers who have been the life of our beloved store. It is, at least I and many other believe, their fault to why we are struggling.

Grocery is certainly a difficult business to be in - the margins are razor thin, and spontaneous outages in the coolers and freezers, while expected from an old building, do still hurt. But, it just cannot be fair that they thrive off the riches they built on all of us, and so, they are to blame.

Here’s what I know. I, nor the rest of the base level staff, know whether or not we are closing, or whether we are fixing stuff. We are not told anything. I understand there’s been so much frustration among all of you, and there has been for us too, but please, do not take your anger out on us - it is out of our control. I hope you understand this dynamic, the situation forced upon us, and direct that anger toward something… or someone else.

I am so displeased. Everyone is getting other jobs and leaving a place that has felt like a second home to me. I have had so much pride in our staff and customers, and I hate to see it crumble before my eyes. This is my truth, my perspective, and the memory of what once was, and what now is.

All of you have made this job so amazing, thank you all for making this community we built feel like home. While the future is bleak, there is still hope, so take advantage of a piece of St. Paul charm while you still can!