For loyal customers, the closing of Roth's Market in Lebanon is unthinkable.

Roth's customers appreciate its moderate size, its focus on customer service and its local fresh foods. It is a full-service supermarket you can get in and out of quickly. Its bakery products and fresh produce have a wide following.

Customers who have commented about the closure on our website also point out that Roth's was not more expensive than other grocery stores, as many apparently thought.

The store opened here on Aug. 15, 1979.

At the time, Safeway was on Oak Street and Shop 'N Kart was known as Fore's Mark & Pak and was on South Main Road. Other competitors included Jerry's Market in the Southgate Shopping Center as well as Kent's Thriftway at Main and Milton sts.

The Plaza was brand new. The other major tenant was Payless Drug Store. Orville Roth, in a green bowtie and apron, cut the ribbon in front of the store.

Since then most of the grocery stores about the size of Roth's have either disappeared (Jerry's, Kent's) or expanded (Safeway, Shop 'N Kart). Most recently, Walmart brought its grocery giant to town.

With Roth's departure, 47 Lebanon jobs disappeared. That's a significant number at all times, but at this time new employment is especially hard to find.

Beyond the dismay of customers and the loss of jobs, the closure of Roth's is a civic loss for Lebanon.

Roth's has been an active contributor to the community. Most decisions about gift-giving were made on the spot, not referred to "corporate," as is common with big businesses.

The store could be counted on to donate or discount food and supplies for a variety of civic activities. The Strawberry Festival shortcake has been made in its bakery for years.

Lebanon is not the only town to experience the loss of local and locally-managed businesses. It's a phenomenon that most towns are familiar with.

Communities lose when corporations centralize all decision-making at their headquarters some place else and do not encourage employees at all their locations to get involved in the civic life of the community.

Roth's - the company - recognizes the value to its business of being a part of the community. That's as much a loss to Lebanon as the birthday cakes, friendly clerks and Oregon-grown produce.