More on the Clark Variety Store

May 24th, 2009 by Mike Knutson

The Clark Hometown Variety Store received more good publicity today in a story published in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Titled “Buying a store sells Clark on small-town power“, the article describes how the residents of Clark, SD (pop. 1300) banded together to create a cooperatively-owned variety store.

If faithful readers of ReImagine Rural think the story sounds familiar, it should. Back in February 2009, I posted about the store, emphasizing the importance of small retail operations like this in small, rural communities. They are often just as much a part of a community’s “infrastructure” as streets, cell phone service, and broadband internet.

The Argus Leader identifies that cooperative-owned stores like this are on the rise, but they missed an opportunity to provide another “local” example of the phenomena it in action. After all, the community of Menno, SD took similar initiative to maintain the presence of a grocery store in their community.

The story also raises the question: What is happening to Clark’s city sales tax revenues? Most people are not aware of how important city sales tax is to the operations of a municipality in South Dakota. My guess is that Clark has seen a rise in its revenues since the store opened. It would be fun to see.