Barbara Lewis moved to Plant City five months ago from the Lithia area. She settled in Plant City Towers, a retirement community off West Mahoney Street.
For Lewis, it was the perfect spot. She was diagnosed with epilepsy and no longer was able to drive. But with a home in Historic Downtown Plant City, she was able to walk everywhere she needed to go — doctors’ offices, the post office and especially Sweetbay Supermarket.
But, that will change Feb. 13 — the day the supermarket chain will close its Wheeler Street location, along with 32 others throughout the state.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Lewis said. “There are a lot of residents like me — and worse. I’m really at a loss of where to get my medications.”
Lewis, along with VerGena Jordan, service coordinator for residents at Plant City Towers, and several other towers residents, approached the Plant City
Commission Jan. 28, to introduce a petition they hope will persuade Sweetbay to keep the store open.
Jordan said the supermarket is integral in allowing tower residents to maintain the independent lifestyle they enjoy.
“There’s going to be hardship,” Jordan said. “But, I spoke with someone at Sweetbay, and she told me, ‘Nothing is impossible.’ She was willing to present anything we had to the owner.”
Gloria McCarthy has lived at Plant City Towers since 2001. Originally, residents had access to a van and later, a bus. But, both of those conveniences shut down years ago. McCarthy suffers from a ruptured disc in her spine, and pain worsens when she sits in a car.
“It’s a very good store,” she said of the Wheeler Street Sweetbay. “I just walk to the store to buy whatever I need.”
Mayor Mike Sparkman sympathized with towers residents and applauded them for their efforts. Commissioner Rick Lott said he is hopeful the Midtown project, once a vision is realized, will attract another grocer.
Lott said Sweetbay had just signed a five-year lease for the location last year.
“This is another example why we need Midtown to be successful,” he said. “We need to build up the residential, commercial and retail efforts in that community.
“Midtown would give us the ability to market (that property) to some other chain,” Lott said.
Nicole LeBeau, a spokeswoman for Sweetbay Supermarket, said it is unlikely a petition would change the chain’s plans.
“Right now, we’re slated to close (all 33 stores) Feb. 13,” she said.
Each store employed about 50 to 60 employees. Sweetbay also reduced its workforce in its Plant City distribution center, but LeBeau said most of the employees were relocated to other positions within the company.
“It’s a small number (who will lose jobs at the distribution facility),” she said. “Maybe 10 to 20 people. Any job loss is significant to us.”
LeBeau said the company does not have any plans to shut down more stores at this time.
Still, Jordan said she remains dedicated to doing her part in helping the residents. If the store closes, she plans to seek other options — such as a bus or delivery service.
“We have 116 residents,” Jordan said. “They’ve come from everywhere — as far away as Romania … to relocate to Plant City. They like the friendliness and the ability to walk to get what they need.
“My heart is to help them,” she said. “I’m still praying. I’m not giving up.”
SIGN THE PETITION
Those who would like to sign the petition to keep Sweetbay open can do so at Plant City Towers, 103 W. Mahoney St., Plant City. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
