Farewell to a Birmingham Grocery Chain

Several area Bruno's and Food World stores are closing, and it's sad to see a beloved Birmingham establishment going down. I went inside one of these stores the other day, and there was no gleeful feeling of finding bargains (actually, there weren't any bargains, but those may come with future markdowns). The feeling was more of helpless pity, like it's too bad things have to end like this.

As a rule, going into a store that is closing for liquidation is never cheerful. It starts with the guy holding the "Store Closing" sign at the nearest intersection, a human who has been reduced to a living sign post (although it's probably nice work if you can get it, with less stress than most jobs). Banners declare "Store Closing! Everything Must Go!" and every window is plastered with loud letters and exclamation points. A liquidating store has lost all dignity, with its aisles festooned by neon markdown signs and over barren shelves. 

It's jarring to see a carefully orchestrated retail production reduced to its props, stripped of all the order and fantasy we expect. Even the fixtures are for sale, with crass price tags on them. You mean this white pole is really just a fixture and not a maginficent greek column? You've already disassembled the vignettes, including the one that inspired me to buy specialty breads and cheeses for an imaginary picnic?

I know BirminghamMoms still have plenty of options for groceries and competitors will be plenty happy to welcome new customers. It's just bittersweet to bid farewell to a neighbor.

Best wishes to the employees who are losing their jobs. May you prosper in a new job with a company far removed from the guys who are holding up "Store Closing" signs.