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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Since You Asked: Rumble strips will be back on Interstate 5 ... Phoenix High ag teacher is tops in state ... Still no sign of missing doctor ... Since You Asked: Rumble strips will be back on Interstate 5 ... Phoenix High ag teacher is tops in state ... Still no sign of missing doctor ... KLAMATH FALLS Klamath Falls looks to fill grocer void after Haggen collapse Comment By Holly Dillemuth Klamath Falls Herald and News MailTribune.com By Holly Dillemuth Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Holly Dillemuth Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News A year after Haggen pulled out of 20 stores in the Pacific Northwest, including two locations in Klamath Falls, the city continues to search for a grocer to fill the void it left behind. Haggen acquired stores across Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Arizona in May 2015, and announced in mid-August 2015 that it was closing stores. Haggen has since declared bankruptcy, leaving stores vacant across the Pacific Northwest, and auctioned off many of the stores. Klamath Falls City Manager Nathan Cherpeski told the Herald and News recently that while there has been some interest in at least one of the former Haggen store buildings, finding a grocer interested in locating to the area has been a harder sell. “It’s a tougher location, the downtown one, and even the South Sixth (store),” Cherpeski said. “We’ve talked to a lot of grocers about it. We haven’t given up trying to get grocers into town. “I think we’ve talked to all the national chains and a lot of the regional chains,” he added. Even if a grocer does agree to consider Klamath Falls, Cherpeski said the wait to know for sure could be 18 months or longer. “None of them are fast,” Cherpeski said. The scenario reminds him of the city’s search for a commercial airliner after SkyWest left the Klamath Falls area in 2014. PenAir will begin offering air service in October. “Let’s hope it has the same ending,” Cherpeski said. “We’re still working with several different ones (grocers) trying to get them interested in the community.” The city hired The Retail Coach in 2015 to recruit grocers on a full-time basis to the area. The consulting firm handles the day-to-day search for a grocer and meets with potential clients about the opportunities available in Klamath Falls. “It’s been helpful keeping us in that loop,” Cherpeski said. “The whole approach to that is we’re not trying to fill necessarily that building. We’re trying to get somebody interested in the town, and then we’ll get a bunch of options and let the property owners finalize deals. We’re just, I guess, trying to play matchmaker. “We haven’t given up. We’re going to keep trying on that,” Cherpeski added. “We’d really like a win.” By Holly Dillemuth Klamath Falls Herald and News MailTribune.com By Holly Dillemuth Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501