For those living in the west side Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood, the loss of a local Walgreens means losing a reliable food source.
Selena Pettigrew, president of the Allied Dunn Marsh Neighborhood Association, said the closing will have a large impact because a large amount of the residents don’t have reliable transportation of their own, or access to any at all.
“The only place we’re going to have left is the gas stations, and who wants to buy milk, eggs and bread from a gas station?” Pettigrew said.
The city has been looking for solutions to the food desert, and Pettigrew said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin met with some of the grocery stores like Metcalf and Fresh Madison Market Friday.
Soglin said the neighborhood has had some history of losing supermarkets, with two going out of business despite serving a much larger population that the Allied Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood.
The city has tried to remedy this issue by trying to draw in customers from a larger area, Soglin said.
“Up until now all of the designs have been to try to bring in a regional clientele,” Soglin said. “A regional clientele will only cross the man-made and natural barriers if there is a specialized store for them. Now a specialized store can be at either end of the economic spectrum in terms of size.”
Soglin suggested one option could be an ethnic food market, as at least half a dozen in the Madison area are doing well. Soglin said not only do local neighborhood support them, but they also attract a larger clientele who perhaps are looking for other types of spices, fresh fruits and vegetables.
The area’s Walgreens is closing not just because of a lack of business, Soglin said, but also because of a national consolidation of stores and changes in policy, such as requiring stores to own their locations. The Allied Drive location one is currently a rental property, Soglin said.
The next nearest pharmacy, also a Walgreens but on Raymond Road, is an estimated 24-minute walk from the location that is closing on Verona Road.
“How are they going to get their medicine?” Pettigrew said. “That’s important. It’s something you cannot do without.”
