Guernsey residents forced to find alternative grocery sources

WHEATLAND  – It’s been just two weeks since Guernsey’s only full-service grocery store locked its doors, and now residents are having to find alternative ways to “bring home the bacon.” Citing substantial financial losses over the past few years, Lynn’s Superfoods was seeking to purchase the package portion of a liquor license currently owned by Ben’s Bar in Guernsey as a hedge, but when the city council delayed the decision to approve the transfer, the grocery store owner chose to close its doors the morning after the council meeting.

Based on the many requests from those in attendance at the council meeting, the council had opted to hold a workshop to allow more public input before taking a final vote for approval, but the store ended up closing before that workshop could be held.

With such short notice, the store’s closing hit the community hard, and much of the concern has been how the elderly and disabled would be able to get their groceries.

Fortunately, locals have come together to make sure they do.

Numerous volunteers and some businesses have stepped up to help and everyone seems to be finding their own “Plan B.”

The Guernsey Senior Center has organized transportation for two trips to Wheatland and one to Cheyenne in March.

Several people have offered to pick items up for their neighbors, and many volunteers have reached out to work with the Platte County Chamber of Commerce and Thrifty Foods in Wheatland to drive groceries to Guernsey residents.

“My heart goes out to Guernsey. I can tell they’re in an upheaval and there is a definite need,” Thrifty Foods owner Jodi Axford said. “We are a sister town (Wheatland), and we are trying to help. The Chamber and a lot of volunteers stepped up to help.”

Axford said the locally-owned Wheatland grocery store is working with the chamber of commerce in a skeleton system that may need tweaking but should work.

The chamber is taking orders for groceries for anyone in the Guernsey and Hartville communities through 3 p.m. on Mondays (or people can use Thrifty Food’s personal shopper app or order online at www.thriftyfoods.us).

Thrifty Foods will then donate an employee’s time to shop the orders, call the customers about any questions on the order and take payment on Tuesday morning. The chamber will then arrange for collecting the boxed groceries and the volunteers who will take the groceries to residents in Guernsey on Tuesday afternoon or evening.

“We’re hoping the store in Guernsey gets opened up soon. I’d like the town to know there’s things in the works. We see them and know there is a need, and we are working to try to fill it. I am a real believer in the LA Dream Center’s motto: ‘Find the need and fill it,” Axford said.

“There was a need and we wanted to help the community,” Chamber CEO Tresha Cancino agreed. “We have wonderful people in Platte County, and many have volunteered as delivery drivers to help in a time of need.”

“Wheatland is so close, and I hope the people of Guernsey know they are not stranded without [access to] a store,” Axford added.

The Senior Center also provides meals to those over 60 Monday through Friday for $5 each. Their guests may also eat at the center for $9.

Twister’s Eatery in Guernsey also volunteered to be a drop off point for groceries if needed.

Guernsey’s food pantry is also available to those who qualify based on income and residence. The pantry is open every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. with the exception of any Friday before or after a major holiday.

Applicants must have an address and the pantry is available to those from Guernsey, Hartville and Fort Laramie. They must fill out a provided form and bring proof of income, including gross income from Social Security and pensions, shown on income tax records or paycheck stubs. Bank statements do not qualify and income from all household members must be included.

Bobbie Ness, manager of Guernsey’s Dollar General store, said the store is actively pursuing the ability to stock fresh meat in the near future.

Ness said she could not give an actual date at this time as she is in the process of seeking a vendor, but the store plans to carry fresh (never frozen) chicken, pork and beef products that will be delivered to it twice a week.

Business has increased since the grocery store’s closing, and the Dollar Store is adjusting inventory as necessary to keep up with demand.

For those who have the means and ability to travel, the grocery store’s closure has pushed them to shop in other communities. For most it is a change in habits; for some, not so much.

In a survey of random area residents about where they are shopping now and how they feel about the closure, comments about the situation covered a wide range.

Most are shopping in Wheatland, Torrington and Cheyenne, many noting they are now combining trips with other service appointments in larger communities.

Several mentioned shopping online as an option.

Nearly everyone surveyed expressed disappointment and sadness about the way the proposed license transfer situation was handled as well as concern for the elderly and disabled who cannot drive to shop.

Several mentioned they felt too much was made of the risk to the two bars, saying they believed customer loyalty would have kept package customers shopping with their established sources regardless of the license transfer.

Some expressed concern for the long-term effects this could bring, including those who might want to move into or stay in the community and what that may do to sustaining other businesses and the school.

Several noted that they did not do any long-term meal planning and shopped almost daily but have now been forced to add that planning to already busy schedules. Several stated they hadn’t been shopping regularly in town anyway, one stating they simply couldn’t afford the higher prices.

One resident stated they have now been shopping in Wheatland, splitting their spending between Safeway and Thrifty Foods but noted that since Thrifty Foods has stepped up to directly help Guernsey residents, they will likely do most of their shopping there in the future. They are encouraging others to do the same.

Whether or not Guernsey’s grocery store finds new owners or remains a memory is yet to be determined. For now, though, the community seems to be making the best of the situation.

This story was published on March 5, 2025.