Part 3/11:
One of the primary factors impacting store operations is criminal activity, especially shoplifting and violence. Stores face ongoing problems with theft and assaults, which threaten the safety of employees and customers. As a result, many corporations decide that the risks and costs outweigh the profits, leading them to close locations.
Videos from Milwaukee show community members protesting storefront closures, with scenes of boarded-up windows and emotional pleas from residents feeling the loss acutely. Many express frustration, not just about the inconvenience, but about the broader implications for food security in their neighborhoods.