SPRINGVIEW, Neb. - Springview residents won’t have to travel far for groceries, as their local store is staying open under new ownership.

Earlier this month, News Channel Nebraska reported that the current owners planned to step away from the business at the end of February, leaving its future uncertain. Now, new owners have stepped in to take over on March 3, though their names have not yet been announced.

The closure of small-town grocery stores has become a growing concern across Nebraska. According to the Center for Rural Affairs, the state lost 30% of its independent rural grocery stores between 2016 and 2021. In some of Nebraska’s most remote communities, the nearest grocery store can be up to 80 miles away.