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After seven decades on Fort Worth's east side, the Marshall Grain Company is preparing to close it's doors and move it's entire operation to it's Grapevine location.
Marshall Grain is an organic gardening, pet supply and plant store that first opened up on East Lancaster Avenue in 1946.
Jim Connelley's family bought it 11 years ago, but he said things have gone down hill in the last few years.
Connelley said crime, homeless panhandlers and safety has impacted business and has customers and staff both feeling unsafe.
"Basically, East Lancaster is pretty run down," Connelley said. "There are a lot of homeless people, there's a lot of crime in the area, and many of our customers over the years have told us that they were afraid to come to the downtown Fort Worth location because of those issues. And you don’t want a retail store in a place where people are afraid to come."
In a review of recent crime reports, there were 22 crimes reported to police between April 1 and May 4. Those crimes include drug arrests, assaults and thefts. It's just a snapshot of recent activity and doesn't show any kind of trend or crime pattern.
In a letter to customers the owners of Marshall Grain didn't pull any punches on placing blame for the deterioration of the neighborhood and it's impact on its business.
"Fewer and fewer of our customers are willing to venture into a neighborhood where the streets are roamed by panhandlers, prostitutes and drug addicts. Nor is it a safe area for our employees, suppliers, and others needing to do business with us."
But Connelley admits its not just crime that's led to sales dropping at the Fort Worth location the last five years, it's the location itself too.
"It was always a concern that the geographic location for the Fort Worth store is not a good location for retail," Connelley said. "So one of the reasons we opened this (Grapevine) store was to have a store in a better retail location."
Marshall Grain opened up its Grapevine location in 2009 and said it will better serve its customers with twice the space.
Owners call it a difficult decision, but that June 30 is the last day Marshall Grain will open in Fort Worth.
