The death of a grocery store

In my neighborhood there is a little grocery store. It isn't a big chain like Safeway or Luckys but around here it is pretty well known. I have shopped there for 20 years now. I have gotten to know some of the long timers pretty darn well.
A few months ago I started noticing a empty space in the shelves here and there. I figured they missed a shipment or something. But the empty spaces... they grew. And grew. AND GREW.
Until I was walking through aisles that looked like this.

I asked over and over again what is going on. Are you going to make it. There were excuse after excuse.
I still go. (Yes it is still open) I want to support them and I really hope that they get going again. Which in this economy... I just don't know.
Being unemployed I know how hard it is to get a job. These people have been working at this store for years. One even said he was going to retire early even though he didn't want to if the store didn't perk up in the next few weeks. So I figure my purchase of bread or what ever they have might help save a job. I mean you never know.
The shelves are a little fuller then that today but still no where near full. I admit to doing my shopping elsewhere most of the time since they seem to be out of one or two things I need every time. But if I only need one or two things I will stop there with my fingers crossed that they have them.
I feel for the employees. They are so worried and down. They want so badly for the store to turn around. I want that for them too.

My poor little store. :(