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November 5, 1999
Local farmsupply storeclosing10 employees affectedBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The doors of CT Farm and Country Store, located on Highway 14 near the Airport, will be closing its doors between now and the end of the year, a victim of corporate realignment. The closure will affect 10 employees in New Ulm. "We are basically just phasing out the operations in New Ulm," Company Spokesperson Remi Gonzalez said. "The store will face a gradual phase out in stages that should be completed by the end of the year." The store is owned by Quality Stores, Inc. of Muskegon, Mich., who recently did a study that involved a re-alignment of their facilities. In addition to the New Ulm store, the company is closing stores in Iowa Falls, Iowa and St. Paul, Neb. as a result of this realignment, Gonzalez said. "The stores will just be closing at this time," she said. "I am not aware of any further plans for the facility in the immediate future." The official announcement regarding the closure of the store came on Nov. 1, and plans are currently under way to begin final clearance procedures so the merchandise can be phased out. Any merchandise left by the end of the year will be transferred to another store. The New Ulm store was closed because there was just no room for the site in the long-term facility realignment plans done at the company headquarters, Gonzalez said. "As we look forward into the next century we want to strengthen our position in the marketplace by realigning our facilities," Quality Stores Vice President of Advertising Jack Feichtner said. "We sincerely regret having to close the store." Local store officials declined to comment on specific details about the closing and the economic impact to the community. Quality Stores, Inc. operates 360 stores in 30 states.
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