Phil Riggan, who hangs at NBC12 during the day and blogs at Richmond on the James at other hours, has one of the best posts this year on a local blog that explores exactly why Richmonders should be at least a little distressed about the end of Ukrop's Supermarket:
Our city is dying. The tarnish is off the crown. I’m just starting to realize this.
When all the big banks based in Richmond were bought out by North Carolina and Georgia banks, did that make Richmond better? No. Losing quality companies headquartered in your city never helps — especially ones that are civic-minded and philanthropic.
When the economy went south and we lost Qimonda, Land America and Circuit City, et al, did that make Richmond better? No. Losing Fortune 500 companies and large employers never helps.
Sports teams leave or spurn Richmond with regularity. I just hope we don’t lose outdoor events like the Richmond Marathon, 10K, Dominion Riverrock (the renamed Adventure Games), etc. At least the mighty James river can’t bolt town.
The people who complain about Ukrop’s are probably the same non-Richmonders that complain that there is nothing to do in this town.
We’ve got plenty of great events in Richmond. Summer concert series and festivals almost every weekend, especially when it’s warm. Carytown. The Fan. Shockoe Bottom. Restaurants. Historic sites. Museums. Battlefields. Parks. The Rivah. You just need to get off the couch and drop a dime in the bucket now and then. Don’t like it? Move to The Netherlands.
Big events come a little cheaper when corporate sponsors (like Ukrop’s) foot some of the bill.
I'm not hanging out on the ledge as far as Phil (see the comments section, of course), but I agree that we've lost a lot of what has made Richmond special on the business front in recent years. Guess it means a new generation of business owners need to step up and fill the void.
