LONGVIEW, Texas — A longtime family-owned grocery store in Longview is getting an outpouring of community support after its owner made a public plea encouraging shoppers to buy local.
KTBS 3 contributor Bethany Nolan visited Skinner’s Grocery and Market, where owner Brant Brantley says the store has been serving the community since his family purchased it in 2001. The store is approaching its 25th anniversary, but Brantley says changing shopping habits and rising costs recently put the business in a difficult position.
Brantley turned to social media to ask customers to support the local business, saying the store was only months away from potentially closing.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Brantley said. “I finally just realized I’m not too proud to ask for help.”
The response, he says, has been overwhelming.
Brantley says shoppers flooded the store following the post, creating a surge in business that left some shelves empty.
“Since Thursday, we have been jammed,” Brantley said. “We’re out of everything. We have a truck coming today, so we’re going to restock and be ready for it.”
Brantley says the challenges facing Skinner’s reflect broader changes in grocery shopping habits. He says customers have shifted away from buying larger weekly grocery hauls as inflation and higher food prices continue to impact families.
“Probably a little over a year ago, we started to see a whole lot less buggy shoppers,” Brantley said.
He says rising prices, especially for items like beef, have caused some customers to choose less expensive options.
Brantley says the support from local shoppers means more than just keeping the store open — it also helps the store’s 22 employees.
“They’re not just supporting my family. They’re also supporting the 22 employees that I have,” Brantley said. “We just truly, truly do appreciate their support and their business because without them, we’re nothing.”
Skinner’s Grocery and Market offers a variety of products, including fresh meat, produce, groceries, and other items.
Brantley’s message to East Texas shoppers is simple: shop local and support local businesses.