Midtown Tulsa -
Homeland is closing it's Tulsa store, after many years. But it has been a staple in the neighborhood near 31st and Harvard. The new vacancy will create problem for residents.
Channel 8's Kim Jackson explains the issue and possible solutions.
Homeland store is closing and everything in the store is on sale. But no one seems to be celebrating that. Everyone around there seems to be sad, the store is going away.
The customers in Homeland realize, this could be their last trip into this store.
"It's like losing my family," said 82-year old Billy Morrow, who has come here several years, not for groceries, but to get food for his soul.
"They've always had good prices and I like the people. The manager is nice and they have one of the best checkers in Tulsa," he said.
Lorie Smith was closeby.
"Sweet, sweet, he always waits in my line, no matter how long it is. But I have been in retail 24 years and I am gonna miss all these customers,"said Smith.
She's worried about the customers who live close by who walk and those who like Billy, manage to drive the short distance.
Many of them are now faced with a challenge, of finding a new store.
"Within this area there are a lot of seniors that walk to this store so now this store is not going to be there, how are they going to access their grocery stores and basic needs if they don't drive?" said Jessica Brent, who is a mobility management coordinator.
That is why experts are helping them find bus routes or transportation to other stores.
But another store is not what they want.
"I lost my parents when I was really young, so I've looked at a lot of these people as my parents or grandparents so it is tough,"said Smith.
Nothing kept customers like Billy Morrow away. He stopped by one last time. And today is his birthday.
Homeland will close for good on Sunday.
