I live near one of the "small format" stores that is closing, barely a year or two after opening (and a significant remodel). The "small format" stores suck. Lacking inventory, many items are locked behind cases, and there are more security guards than actual employees on the floor, so you spend a long time waiting for someone to unlock the item you need while being stared down by some goon in olive drab and body armor.

It sure feels a lot like they're blaming their bad business decisions on nebulous "criminal activity" that only happens to be in left-leaning towns, feeding directly into right-wing narratives. Identical to the CVS San Francisco stories from a few years ago

I hate it here