Dillons letter from the mayor

Topeka residents, Since Dillons’ announcement last week of its intent to close its 1400 S.W. Huntoon store, city leaders from across all service areas have been working to find a solution to what we know is a significant community issue.

After several conversations with leadership at Kroger, Dillons’ parent company, we now know there is no changing the decision – the 1400 S.W. Huntoon store will close as planned, at 6 p.m.

Feb. 13. The store already has started discounting its items and expects to be empty by Thursday.

But our work isn’t done. We know hundreds of Topekans have relied on this location for their livelihood for decades. We won’t let up until we know the residents of this community have easy access to a community grocery store.

Already City leaders, from Topeka City Manager Jim Colson to the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Matt Pivarnik, have begun engaging different community leaders and businesses to find a more permanent solution.

Dillons as recently as Friday gave the City clearance to work with their real estate team to negotiate its plan for the building.

“Since the news broke of Dillons’ intentions, we have been in constant communications with the store and its parent company, with area residents and businesses and with community leaders to find a solution,” Colson said. “We will find a resolution, and this community will become stronger than ever.”

While this work goes on, the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority is launching an effort to educate and assist the people of Central Topeka with how to access food.

Topeka Metro will have buses parked prominently outside the Dillons store three days next week, with staff on hand offering route details and information about how to carry groceries on their buses. Hours will be: 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9; and 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10.

"Topeka Metro cares about helping those who will no longer have a grocery and pharmacy location nearby,” said Metro general manager Susan Duffy. “Our staff wants to help those who may have been within walking distance now having to navigate riding a bus to shop for food and get prescriptions filled. To help make this transition process less painful, we will provide guidance for alternate routes that may work for them and their particular situation.”

City agencies, both public and private, have made numerous investments to Central Topeka in the past 15 years – from the $23 million expansion of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and the $22 million mixed use redevelopment of College Hill, to the City’s work to demolish 11 blighted homes, to install lighting along Washburn and Lane and to facilitate the development of a significant amount of infill housing. In the last 15 years, between infill housing and the College Hill development, 251 housing units have been built in the area.

We have and always will be committed to the neighborhoods of this City and this community.

We will keep you informed as we learn more information.

Yours,

Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast