09/05/2025
The Marmaton Market has closed its doors until further notice. For those of you who have questions you can address any of them to the members of the Board of Directors - Ken McWhirter, Kay Lewis, Lori Holman, Richard, Eschavez, Sandy Murrow, Dorothy Sparks, or Brenda Boyle. The main reason for the closing of the store was lack of support from the community. If you do not shop at a store, it cannot keep its doors open. As far as management, if you do not like someone, you do not have to deal with them, but you can still buy items in the store. You saw things decreasing on the shelves, but all the community did was complain about who was managing the store and the high prices. You asked for certain items to be carried in the store and then you complained about the items were too high in price. You complained about not having choices of name brands but complained that they were too high in price. The community always came to the store when they needed items for a fundraiser, and we gladly helped you out, but then you did not support the store in return. Everybody in the community wanted to talk about what all was wrong but no one showed up at Board meetings or offered to help resolve some of the issues. You wanted to complain about the General Manager but did you realize that she has invested $40,000 of her own money in the store over the past 4 years to keep it going. She would still be investing, but her money has run out. Oh, by the way, she has copies of all the receipts to verify her investments. For those of you who think she has been embezzling funds from the store, she currently has over $2500.00 in outstanding invoices for goods for the store that she has not received payment for as well as many weeks of salary that she has not been paid. This is not meant to garner any pity for her as she is the one who has put her heart and soul into this store. She has your community and citizens in her best interest.
You may not miss having the store open, but again you will just have to rely on the convenience stores and big box stores in the future. You need to reach out to those in the community that does not have transportation to see that they have access to groceries and meals in the future. Not everyone has a car or the means to go to town to do their shopping. You also need to realize that the effect of the loss of employee payroll and tax payments will greatly impact your town. You will no longer have those sources to support your town and cover city bills.
Closing the doors of The Marmaton Market Inc was not an easy decision, but it is one that seems to be what the people of the community wants at this point in time. Best of luck in the future to the residents of the community of Moran and the surrounding area.
