Meeting planned to discuss Manhattan Kroger closing

9/4/2009

A group of North Toledo neighborhood activists intent on keeping open the Manhattan Plaza Kroger store in North Toledo Friday announced an agreement they say they had reached with the regional store chain management to hold a community meeting to discuss the matter.

Sherry Walker, president of Lagrange Village Council, said the group contacted Bruce Macaulay, president of the Kroger's Great Lakes division, on Aug. 21 and reached an agreement to hold the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Zablocki Senior Center, 3015 Lagrange St.

Ms. Walker was speaking at a news conference in the store's parking lot at 559 East Manhattan Blvd.

"I am for keeping it open," said Charles Amonette, of North Toledo, a retired forklift operator.

"I have a vehicle to go shop at other places but there's a lot of people around here who don't have transportation or can't afford the gas," Mr. Amonette said. He was one of about a dozen of shoppers who stopped by.

Mr. Macaulay could not be reached for comment.