Jay-C protest and mayor made a difference

Save our only full service grocery ~ Small protest group

Madison showed today that it could mount a protest demonstration that was peaceful, people friendly — and which probably played a role in positive developments in the Jay-C Store’s scheduled closing drama.

A group, led by organizer Jan Vetrhus and including Old Corporal, made up in enthusiasm what it somewhat lacked in numbers. Blame the extreme cold, made even less bearable by the gusty winds. The group mounted its protest on the public sidewalk opposite the store’s parking lot on East Second Street. Signs and placards carried voiced various sentiments, such as “Don’t bag our seniors!” with a plastic bag symbolizing the self-service store which is to replace Jay-C; and “Honk to support Jay-C Store!” which drew many “Toot-toots!” from passing motorists.

Jay-C company executives announced late yesterday and apparently early today that the new store will still sell the famed fried chicken that has become a symbol of downtown Madison’s and Milton’s annoyance at the announcement of the scheduled closing. All seem to agree that it’s the best fried chicken you can buy in a store in this area.

In addition, the new store will include a deli, although a smaller one than the present Jay-C deli. Mayor Tim Armstrong deserves the lion’s share of the credit for that concession, I believe, as he spent hours on the phone bargaining with company executives. But those of us who picketed would like to feel that the movement started by Vetrhus had a good deal to do with it as well.

As we picketed from 10 a.m. to about 1:30 (no, this old man was not standing out in the cold ALL that time!) numerous customers coming and going from the store voiced their support of our efforts. “We’re for ya!” one elderly man said, pausing and grinning as he started to enter the front door. When he left shortly after with a bag of groceries, and drove out of the lot, he grinned again, waved and honked his horn as a parting shot of approval.

Two store executives who had driven to Madison for the day, Mark Combs, who was extensively quoted in a Madison Courier article about the Jay-C Store issue today, and another, tall man whose name I didn’t catch, were friendly and cordial to the picketers, emerging from the store twice with cups of hot chocolate and a supply of freshly-fried chicken from the deli to help keep up our strength. We chatted with the two execs, and while it was sometimes spirited, both sides agreed to disagree and no one got mad.

Save our Jay-C Store

It was a fun experience, as well as one I think was needed to put a point across to company execs who may have sincerely not realized how strong were the feelings of many Madisonians about the upcoming changeover of the store from Jay-C to Ruler’s, a store similar to an Aldi’s. The cold weather made it a little more memorable for us all. I told those other, younger people in the group (I think I may have been the oldest person there) that it reminded me of walking outdoor guard duty in the U.S. Army in the middle of winter at Fort Riley, Kansas, back in the 1960s.

No, we didn’t save the Jay-C Store. That corporate decision appears to be irrevocable. But they have agreed to “give” on the fried chicken and deli issues. Thanks, Mayor Armstrong! Thanks, Jan, for setting all this in motion. Thanks to the company executives who treated us with kindness and respect.

And thanks to the general public for all that support, and especially for those “Honks.” Wish we’d counted them all!