Good afternoon, Chicago.

Alicia Goings, a Chicago Heights resident, said she depends on the Country Squire grocery store when she doesn’t have time to drive to cheaper stores out of town.

But Country Squire, which has served the community under several names for 67 years as others such as Ultra Foods have closed, is one of the few options left for her aunt, who lives on a fixed income and has no transportation. To reach stores such as Walmart, her aunt must either find a ride or pay for an Uber, Goings said.

Goings lives in one of several south suburban areas where grocery stores such as a Walmart in Homewood or a Save-A-Lot in Richton Park closed in recent years, and municipal officials say they struggle to attract grocery stores, making it harder for residents to access fresh, healt

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