It’s too bad that Nelson’s Market Place is closing.

That means longer distances for many people to get access to fresh fruits and vegetables, to bread, to milk, to the everyday nutritional needs.

What’s more, it was a common sight to see people walking to this grocery store, more so than its competitors. It is near a residential neighborhood, not out by the freeways. Look on any population map and you notice Nelson’s is nearby the highest density of population in Freeborn County — the neighborhood near the Shady Oaks high rise and the Senior Towers complex.

As much as people on the west side of Albert Lea went to the store, they alone could not keep it in business.

Nelson’s has a reputation for a quality meat counter, for selling local products, for supporting community activities, for quick checkouts, for an active bakery, for cookies for children and for approachable owners.

It will be sad to lose such a large asset to the community.

But the owners noted that 55,000 square feet was too much to fill and decreasing sales were hurting margins. We wish Chris and Jay Nelson the best in their coming endeavors. Thanks for the memories.