Tt post jan 21, 2017

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It's the only big box store that I patronize regularly. It's headquartered in Maumee or something like that. Local. The Talmadge Rd store is about a seven-minute drive from our West Toledo house.

I'm not the kind of shopper that will make more than three stops when out. And while I can buy some of the items at my other favorite stores, such as the Phoenix Earth Food Co-op, Zavotski's, Al Habib, Titgemeier's, and Black Diamond, at times, I want to complete my shopping in one stop.

The Andersons is convenient for me. Here are a few simple examples of why The Andersons is unique to my needs.

In the backyard bird feeding section of the store, I can buy Chuck-A-Nut pumpkin seeds that I feed to the birds because House Sparrows don't eat them, and in the beer section, I can buy Orval. I'd like to know of another store that sells those two items.

At The Andersons bakery, I can buy a black-and-white cookie for me, and in the pet section, I can buy dog food for my mutt.

I can buy white whole wheat flour for bread baking and green bean seeds to plant in my garden. I can buy light bulbs for the track lightning in my computer room and Cheerwine soda.

I can buy the usual things, such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, trash bags, paper goods, cleaning supplies, snacks, wine, and if necessary, house paint, work gloves, nails, a new lawn or garden tool, tomato plants for my garden, and Espoma organic fertilizers.

That quirky variety is what attracted me. But that variety might also be the reason why the store failed because shoppers like me probably represent a minority.

Without The Andersons, I'm confident that between Amazon.com and my favorite small, locally-owned stores that I will be able to satisfy my shopping needs, although it will be less convenient.

The main concern, however, will be where to buy the black-and-white cookie. I might have to learn to bake that myself.