NW Kansas town likely to lose only food store

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VICTORIA, Kan. (AP) -- The only grocery store in the northwest Kansas town of Victoria could be closing next month unless someone steps in to take it over.

Rick Weigel says he decided to close the business -- Rick's Food Store -- after buying a grocery in his hometown of La Crosse, about 25 miles away. The Victoria store has one full-time and five part-time employees.

Weigel says he's hoping to find a buyer, or to persuade Victoria residents to operate the grocery as a community-run store. He points out that several small Kansas towns have community-run food stores.

If the community doesn't step in and he can't find a buyer, Weigel says he'll close the store Dec. 31.