An announcement on the Facebook page of the local Ben Franklin store in Eagle Grove, one of the last of the iconic, once ubiquitous department stores left in the nation, and the second to last in Iowa, sent tremors through the local Father's Day celebrations this past weekend – as the store owners will be throwing in the towel at long last.
"Friends," the post read, "We have decided to close the store. This was a difficult decision for us to make but due to many different circumstances we have come to this conclusion. We are currently closed and are getting ready for our Store Closing Sale! We will reopen Thursday June 22nd at 9:00am. We invite you to come and Thank You for all the years of loyalty. Sincerely, All of us at Ben Franklin Eagle Grove".
Public reaction was swift, and bittersweet.
Many reported a personal sadness at the news.
"I’m so sad," wrote Megan Ellis, "Eagle Grove will not be the same."
"I am so sad to see this happen! I will (miss) you ladies," agreed Nancy Arne. "I loved all the visits we had! Again, so sad."
"NO! I hate to hear this," wrote Linda Borkowski, "your store is a favorite of mine."
"It sure won’t be the same without Bennie’s" wrote Julie Frommelt. "You will be missed!"
"Many Memories over the years at this store," lamented Todd Riley.
Others commented on what an asset the store had been to the community.
"So sorry to hear this as I have always enjoyed shopping in your store," Nancy Fawcett noted, adding, "You've been an asset to our community and will be missed by many."
"You will certainly be missed. Eagle Grove appreciates all you’ve done for our community," wrote Gia Boyer.
"You will be missed! Thank you for all you have done and offered," wrote Amanda Friedl.
"This is sad news," Melissa Smith concurred. "You have served our community for many years. Thank you for that. Also you always had what I was looking for."
Still others lamented the loss of a store that was a primary source of goods for them.
"So sad to hear," reported Laura Tincher. "I purchase my makeup and other items there."
"We loved going there. I bought many cards, birthday and Christmas presents there," wrote Elizabeth Good. "All the employees were nice too. Eagle Grove will miss you," she added.
"Very sad this is happening and I have always loved your store," remarked Anna Greenley. "You have such a huge variety of things and exactly what I was looking for every time. You will be very greatly missed by our community."
"So sad to hear," wrote Valerie Hanson. "How will I break the news to my grandkids? They love going to Ben's for a special treat when they are visiting. The store and workers will be greatly missed."
"I buy a lot of my favorite fabrics there," wrote Marlene Waddell, "towels to embroider and yarn for afghans."
Some from out of town reported traveling to shop at one of the last Ben Franklins, or stopping by to shop when passing through.
How sad," wrote Patty Maxon Larson, "(I) always stopped there to shop when near or in Eagle Grove."
"Loved the store…we tried to stop in there when we came to town to visit relatives," wrote Tara Reyna Linn, of the Kansas City Missouri area. "So sad to hear it's closing."
"We did the same! So sad to read this," wrote Anne Perdicaris, in response to Reyna Linn.
"I love going here when I'm in town! So very sad," agreed Brenda Marvets West.
"I love Ben Franklin stores," wrote Kristene Day.
"Sorry to hear this," remarked Ken-Jan Theiss-Andrews, "I have gone there for many years when I was younger and going through Eagle Grove when possible."
"I loved this store," wrote Deb Waychus Riecks, who moved away from Eagle Grove in 2014, and now resides in Hampton. "I bought my very first house supplies here," she added, "came back every year for 11 years to get new ones… sad to see them go."
Still others expressed concern at the fate of Main Street (Broadway) businesses.
Pretty soon there will be no stores on main street," wrote Kathleen Glissmann Willard. "This store will be missed!"
"Very sorry to hear this," commented Marla Lorenzen. "You are an anchor store in EG."
Whatever is to come for the space now, one thing is for certain – it is the end of an historic era, and Eagle Grove is losing something special – and increasingly rare.
