Does this make any sense at all??
The way you presented the matter in the title, no, it doesn't make sense. Upon reading the story, yes, the boycot makes sense.
From the story:
Kroger says those stores underperformed, Jackson says it leaves fewer healthy food options for those in predominantly black neighborhoods. It leaves poorer neighborhoods in food deserts.
Kroger says the stores underperformed, and I understand exactly what that means. I understand why they are closing the stores. I suspect, however, the "underperformance" doesn't mean the stores were unprofitable, but rather that the stores didn't meet the firm's profit targets.
I also understand Jackson's point. I can readily see the value of having a grocery store in one's neighborhood, particularly in a city where many people don't drive. (That particular Kroger was across the street from several large apartment complexes.) The Whole Foods closest to my home has a tiny parking lot that, save for around the holidays, is never more than half full, yet the store itself is "full" and busy from the moment it opens to closing time.
In the city, people walk or take a bus to places like grocery stores, mostly because they can, sometimes because they must, and sometimes because city residences don't have room for a week's worth of groceries. By consolidating to a store a mile away, it's quite possible that the people who would have patronized the now-closed Kroger will have to take a long bus ride to and from because the routes are roundabout getting between/through the two areas. You tell me, what goes through your mind when faced with having to travel for 30 - 45 minutes to go a mile or so away? If you're like me, you'll say "oh, eff it" and not go. Add to that the time waiting for a bus, the round trip and what used to be a 15 minute run to the grocer becomes an hour and a half affair.
Now what could Kroger do? Well, it could move to a smaller location in Walnut Hills. I get that running a full line grocery store might not work for Kroger's profit goals, but clearly the people in the area were buying something. Perhaps a smaller store that carried an assortment that aligned with what people were actually buying would work.
Another option might be for Kroger to move into a portion of the existing store and lease the remainder of the space to other businesses that could benefit from the added traffic the grocery store generates. Ever seen a Walmart with a McDonald's or Subway inside? Kroger might have a similar opportunity available to it, be it food stores or non-food stores with which it shares the space. Hell, put in a laundromat (or some other entity that typically has customers who sit around and wait....auto repair, a government office, etc). I'm sure folks waiting for their clothes to finish would buy stuff in the grocery store...drinks at the very least, and single drinks sold in grocery stores happen to be high margin items. That would go a good way toward helping the store meet its targets.
