Same story here in Pittsburgh. We had a “food desert” neighborhood basically because the crime there was so high.
But city leaders deemed it RAAAAAAACIST that there should not be a grocery store there (you can draw your own conclusions as to why) and so they determined that there WILL be one.
And to achieve that they offered MASSIVE taxpayer subsidies to grocery store operators to go in there.
One was about to take the bait, but got a clue and bailed out at the last minute. Another one took the deal. But after several years of massive shrink and shoplifting (plus constant headbutting with locals that they “weren’t doing enough for the community”) they closed-up shop and bailed as well.
No doubt the subsidies are being doubled in order to bribe the next victim.
No perogies for you!