The Record

Coborn’s pressures Loso’s

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By Theresa Kerr

Loso’s grocery store has fed the local community for 121 years, but the new four-month old Coborn’s in St. Joseph has already had a huge impact on the small town business — so much that it may result in Loso’s possible year-end closing.

Dick Loso, owner and grandson of the founder of Loso’s grocery store in St. Joseph, has seen a tremendous change in the customer count on a day-in, day-out basis.

“We used to average about 240-250 customers per day,” Loso said. “Since the opening of Coborn’s, Loso’s now averages about 130-140 people per day. Very few of them have been students.”

Many students say they are attracted by Coborn’s lower prices and a larger selection.

Senior Mike Carr agrees.

“Coborn’s has lower prices, which is pretty much key in attracting students,” Carr said. “I also think the deli and liquor store do quite a bit, too.”

Many of the products in Loso’s, however, are equal in price if not lower than Coborn’s products.

“Coborn’s is not known for being cheap,” Loso said. “They wouldn’t be a multi-million dollar corporation if they didn’t sell their products at high prices.”

Coborn’s is working on attracting more students with sales and promotions. Ryan Rothwell, Coborn’s store manager, is also pushing for a bus that will run from CSB to Coborn’s weekly.

“We will probably start promotions sometime next year,” Rothwell said. “Right now the Penny Pincher is sent out to CSB students.”

Because of expenses, Loso’s does not advertise to students like Coborn’s does with its mailer ads. Loso’s coupons and sale ads can be found on the front table after you walk in the door.

“There are about 60-70 new sale items every two weeks,” Loso said. “Some of our regular-priced products are even cheaper than their sale prices.”

Convenience is also a huge fac- tor in attracting customers to both stores. Sophomore Allie Plunkett believes both Loso’s and Coborn’s have attractive features.

“I’ll go to Coborn’s because they have more types of food, but if I just have to get a couple of things I’ll go to Loso’s,” Plunkett said.

First-year Hannah Dolan agrees.

“I like the cute, small-town charm of Loso’s,” Dolan said. “It has basically everything I need, and I don’t have a car so it’s convenient to walk over.” Rothwell hopes Coborn’s is not hurting any of the businesses in St. Joseph.

“I haven’t heard anyone say that they used to shop Loso’s or the Meat Market and now are coming here,” Rothwell said.

“We want to stay open,” said Ilene Schroeder, a Loso’s employee. “One employee, Alice Schneider, has been working here for 38 years.”

Coborn’s is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and Loso’s is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-7p.m.and Sunday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Students enjoy having the option between mom-and-pop charm and chain store selection, but this option will continue only if Loso’s can stay in business.

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