Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton
Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton
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The site that was used to hold Walmart and used to hold Big R can soon add Stock+Field to that list.
Local employees learned this week that the small farm supply chain, based in Watseka, Ill., is closing in March.
Numerous attempts to reach Stock+Field management have failed so far. One local manager told The Paper that she was not authorized to share any details.
However, the company’s employees in Crawfordsville were informed of the decision Tuesday – and word spread quickly.
“We are saddened to learn that a corporate decision has been made to close the Stock & Field store in Crawfordsville,” Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton said. “Unfortunately, we’ve not had any communication from the owners about the basis on which they made their decision but the store clearly appeared to struggle after transitioning from Big R to Stock & Field.”
According to the chain’s website – www.stockandfield.com – there are stores in four other states besides Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.
There was also no information on the web site about the Crawfordsville – or any of the other stores – closing.
“I feel for the dedicated employees of the local store and want to assure them this community is there to support them as they go through this challenging time,” Barton said. “Fortunately, our local economy remains strong and I am confident employees affected by this closure will be able to quickly transition into the many employment opportunities that currently remain unfilled in Crawfordsville. In addition, the space that is being vacated is a great space, in a good location, and I am optimistic another retail offering will take advantage of the opportunity.”
Barton also added that another factor is likely to blame.
“This serves as yet another example to of the ever-changing nature of the retail landscape as businesses face ongoing challenges adapting the changing consumer buying habits, such as online shopping, and disruptions caused by the pandemic.”