Longtime Local Retailer Shuts Its Doors

The Florida Street drainage project has drained the life out of yet another business.

Greer's, a grocery chain operating in Mobile for 94 years, is shutting the doors at its Florida Street location at the end of this month. The retailer blames its trouble on the city-funded drainage and road project that began in 2007.

"It's a matter of decline, and what this whole project has done to the neighborhood and this part of town by cutting us off and isolating us," said Eileen Schwartz, who owns Knot Just Beads across the street from Greer's Food Tiger.

Schwartz and many other business owners fear they could be forced to make tough choices too.

"It's taking my husband's check to pay the rent, household money to stay here," said Dianne Caylor, who says her business, Midtown Antiques, has seen it's revenue drop 70% because of the project.

David Gardberg has owned Gardberg's, a furniture store on Florida Street, for more than five decades. With the detours, even his long-time customers are having trouble finding their way to his store. "We'll send a car to meet them and follow us," says Gardberg.

The retailers teamed up in February 2008 to file a lawsuit against the city of Mobile and Volkert Construction. A spokesperson for Mayor Sam Jones declined to comment about the project's impact on business, citing the pending litigation.

Florida Street is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving, but city officials say while the road will be passable for holiday shoppers, the project will not be finished. Construction will resume after Christmas.

Greer's still has four other Mobile locations including two stores on Springhill Avenue.