Norman's IGA closing after nearly 60 years in Nebraska City

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By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

NEBRASKA CITY —  Every few minutes, Jim Stehlik stops restocking grocery shelves to listen to a customer offer condolences.

No one has died in Stehlik’s family, which includes brothers Bill and Pip, but it feels that way.

Norman’s IGA is having a going-out-of business sale. 

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Buckets of frosting and frozen cakes are part of the going-out-of-business sale at Norman's. Joyce Turner (left) of Nebraska City said "It's sad to see a family-owned business close down. They've always been very giving to the community." (Robert Becker)

“I’ve known the family all of my life,” said Joyce Turner, a longtime customer. “I guess it’s sad to see a family business shut down. They’ve done a lot for the community.”

When a nonprofit group needed food or a donation, the Stehliks helped out. They donated a police car to the town and sponsored ball teams.

Giving back to the community became the family’s trademark.

“I don’t know of any organization that has come to them and asked them for something that they ever turned them down,” Turner said.

The Stehlik family has sold groceries in Nebraska City for 58 years. Jim’s father, Norman, and his grandfather Fred opened the first store on Central Avenue.

“We did everything in our power to stay in business,” Jim Stehlik said.

They offered special promotions and give-aways. They added an in-store Dairy Queen.

But competition for the grocery dollar is stiff here. Norman’s IGA competed with Food Pride and with a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

When Wal-Mart opened in January 2007, Jim Stehlik said, the effect was almost immediate. Sales were off by as much as 50 percent some days, he said.

“We did fine till Wal-Mart came,” he said.

Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz said customers ultimately choose which businesses succeed or fail.

“It would be impossible for me to say without knowing more about the situation, whether Wal-Mart’s presence was a factor in this store’s situation,” he said. “Wal-Mart is often criticized when we move a store or move out of a community because many businesses find it advantageous to be located near Wal-Mart. ... We drive customer traffic.”

Some businesses recover after big chain stores open nearby.

But some are unable to compete with high-volume buying and discount pricing. 

“We’re not the first or the last,” Jim Stehlik said.

Norman’s IGA has discounted food and other items by 15 percent, and deeper discounts will follow until the inventory is depleted, Jim Stehlik said. No plans have been made for the 40,000-square-foot building.

Diane Hammer started work for the family 21 years ago as a part-time checker. She worked her way up to store manager at one of the former locations.

“Now I have to look for a job. I’m not sure they had resumes when I started here,” she said.

Hammer said the past few days have been emotional, with regulars coming to offer their support.

“I’m going to absorb it first.” she said. “This is what happened and go from there.”

At its peak, Norman’s IGA employed about 130 people, including many high school students. Now they are down to about 30 employees.

This will be Hammer’s second closing. She helped the Stehliks close their store on the north side of town in 2002.

“We just had a feeling maybe it was coming. We hoped that something would come along at the last minute and everything would be OK,” Hammer said. “It’s just sad. Very sad.”

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.