For those who don’t live in the Indiana area, up until recently there was a chain of grocery stores called Marsh. I say recently because as of this month, Marsh is now a chain of empty buildings. This is either a surprising new business strategy, or the result of their descent into bankruptcy; either way, they’ve sold everything they had, right down to their fixtures, and closed their doors.
Before the sad, lifeless husk that had once been our grocery store closed for good, my wife and I decided take a last look around. Their wares had been thoroughly picked over at this point. By then, their merchandise mainly consisted of bagged ice and countless packages of Peeps Oreos.
There’s something odd about wandering the aisles of a grocery store to find empty shelves as far as the eye can see, barren walls where brightly colored, patronizing advertisements should jockey for your attention, and the eerie silence of a PA system failing to play pop music or blare incomprehensible announcements in a shrill, distorted voice.
It was for this reason that we decided to take one last trip to our local Marsh. Simply put, visiting a store that has no interest in ever getting money from you again is like watching a star die. There’s something beautiful and tragic about it. Also, you can get deeply discounted junk food. Of course, if they turn out to be moldy or poisonous, there’s no one left to hold accountable in court, but I suppose that’s life.
And besides, who can say no to cheap Peeps Oreos? I mean, other than people who have eaten them.