Originally posted in the September 2015 issue of The Current.
Dear nice and large chain grocer:
Let’s forgo all of stats, facts, figures, etc., for this is a situation that doesn’t fit into your fancy business expansion plan algorithms and slide-rules and such. Downtown Sanford is by far the largest community in the state of Florida without a Publix or a specialty grocer. Now, we (for the most part) understand why that is.
We can imagine what would happen if you were to plug in the population and household incomes of our city into your huge corporate mega computer to decide if we are worthy of one of your outposts. . . after about 30 seconds of blips and blinks from the wall of data banks (For some reason I am envisioning the WOPR computer that Matthew Broderick was able to hack back in ’83?) a little chit of paper would be spit out of the other end saying “NO WAY”. But, we argue that this situation is a little more unique, with many intangibles that a cold and callous computer program just wouldn’t be able to compute.
Sanford was once the largest city in the region. It was a transportation and shipping hub that connected the northern states with south Florida. Mosquito County was broken up into an Orange and a Seminole County because it was not big enough to contain both Sanford and Orlando. We had a vibrant downtown, a great transportation network, great neighborhoods with a great community . . . . we even had a Publix at one point.
Like most great cities, the great days don’t always last.
Regional industries sometimes take a hit. In Sanford’s case, it was a couple of great freezes that set back its agriculture industry.
Sometimes advances in modes of transportation can dictate changes. In Sanford’s case, it was the new Interstate 4. Built in the 60’s, it passes by 4 miles west of our downtown while funneling traffic right through downtown Orlando. Along with that went the shipping, trains, and airline traffic.
Those two changes had a ripple effect that shifted much of everything else that makes a town great, to the other burgeoning town in the area. Sanford quickly became a footnote in our regions history.
Fast forward to todays Sanford. . . We have a newly vibrant downtown, with many new businesses on the way. We have a great transportation system again, with a major interstate nearby, a major toll road nearby, bike trails, a commuter rail system, and a major airport. We have great neighborhoods that are very attractive to young and first-time home buyers who are being priced out of the larger city, or to people wishing to improve their quality of life. And the community? Could not be better for a town that has endured what it has for the last century. What about a Publix? Nope.
Residents of Sanford have an option of 4 different Publix outlets to choose from, all of the about an average of 5 miles away from our city center.
All indicators are emphatically pointing to Sanford reclaiming its spot as the hub of the region. Our town is poised for greatness once again. People are investing in the area, businesses are investing in the area. We will soon have what everyone is looking for when they are choosing where to re-locate. . . except a major grocer or specialty grocer.
So, our question to you, regional grocery company and/or niche-filling specialty market, is this: What are you waiting for? Put down your big fancy spreadsheets, take off your tie, and come check out a community that you will no doubt open a location within sooner or later. Instead of waiting for the data to be overwhelmingly in your favor, jump in now. Instead of coming in later after all of the heavy lifting has been done by others, roll up your sleeves along with us. You have an huge opportunity to grow with us, and be a part of our renaissance. You can win us over as dedicated customers because we will appreciate your investment in our community. Being first to the marketplace would reap you huge dividends. We would enjoy a great symbiotic relationship for many years to come.
So, I guess, um, give us a call? We would love to show you what you cannot see on your computer screen . . . which is a whole lot of neat stuff going on. Neat stuff that would involve a whole bunch of people needing to buy groceries.
Super sincerely,
Mike Smith
The Current Magazine