ROME -- It’s never easy for a city to hear that hundreds of jobs will be gradually phased out but the city of Rome has been dealing with massive job losses ever since Griffiss Air Force Base was shut down more than 15 years ago. Many neighbors say news that Rite Aid would be closing down a distribution center in the city and eliminating 388 jobs is another blow to an already weakened region.
"I'm sure you had people that have been there for years, 20 years, 30 years and now there job is gone,” said Rome native Zach VonBernuth
On Tuesday a Rite Aid spokesperson said the 40 year old distribution facility was outdated and the closing is part of rite aid's consolidation plans. For many people who live and work near the center, planning just became much more difficult.
Just a few hundred yards from the distribution center is the Cozy Cabin restaurant. The hand built log cabin has only been open for lunch and dinner for ten months. Owner Diana Evanciew said she was floored when news of the closing came out.
"Not only is it hard, it's scary,” said Evanciew. “We're new - what is the future going to hold for us?"
Rome, if nothing else, has shown it is resilient. Diana Evanciew hopes that as the sun sets on the jobs at Rite Aid, businesses like hers could help Rome grow into the future.
"Well if we made it through the base leaving I guess we can go through this but we definitely need to get some businesses in here,” said Evanciew.
Workers who will be losing their jobs in Rome will have the chance to apply for 60 open positions at Rite Aid's Liverpool distribution center. Others could be transferred to Rite Aid distribution centers along the east coast.
