In Eastport, Maine, America's easternmost city, the only full-service grocery store is about to close.
As R&M IGA plans to shut its doors on Sept. 3, residents are worried about growing difficulties in obtaining fresh food and household essentials, now facing a roughly 40-minute trip to the nearby town of Calais for groceries.
Here's what to know
As reported by The Maine Wire, owner Merilyn Mills is closing R&M IGA after no buyer stepped forward to purchase the fourth-generation family business.
Nothing indicates that any single policy or cost directly forced R&M IGA to shut down. Mills has said she is retiring, and no buyer came forward, according to the outlet. But for small-town retailers, the business climate has clearly gotten tougher.
Eastport is not alone in the struggle that many rural Maine communities face in securing fresh food and nearby groceries.
For example, Chebeague Island's only store closed in 2026 after 65 years in operation, Grand Isle's general store shut down in 2022, Stockholm lost its lone grocery store in 2023, and in 2026 the Ashland Food Mart closed, according to the Wire.
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More background
R&M IGA is also listed as an authorized vendor in Maine's WIC program, meaning its closure could create another hurdle for qualifying women, infants, and children who depend on the nearby access to healthy food.
The impact of this store closure will be immediate. Older adults who no longer drive, people with disabilities, and low-income families sharing transportation may face much steeper challenges than a simple inconvenience. Additionally, roughly 20 workers are expected to lose their jobs, per the Bangor Daily News.
At the community level, this kind of closure also raises questions about how states support essential businesses before towns become food deserts.
When local options are limited, planning can still make a difference. Communities can coordinate ride-sharing, provide delivery support for seniors, and create partnerships with nearby towns to reduce the burden on households most affected by extended grocery trips.
Those measures will not replace a full-service supermarket, but they may help soften the blow.
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