NEW ATHENS, Ill. — A small southern Illinois town is without a grocery store for the first time in four decades.
On Tuesday, the town's only grocery store in New Athens shut its doors after 43 years in business.
"It's kind of different to not have an actual grocery store around here anymore," Zach Wombacher said.
Wombacher has lived in New Athens for 14 years. He told 5 On Your Side it's hard to imagine his town not having a store to get fresh food.
"It's kind of a devastation for all of us. I mean that's where we go to get everything," he said.
The closest grocery to New Athens is a 30-minute drive, but there's new hope for Wombacher and his town. A new grocery store called Country Mart opened in Freeburg, which cut his drive in half.
Wombacher said he's happy about getting fresh food closer to his home, but said it's still not convenient as having a store within blocks.
"It's a good store. They have everything you need but still driving two blocks to get what you need instead of 15 minutes is always better," he said.
He called the store a loss to the community.
"A small-town grocery store it brings the town together. You see people in that grocery store that you know every day," Wombacher said.
There's is a Dollar General in New Athens, where people can pick up items, but it's doesn't have a produce section.
