Dear Abby: I hate that my grocery store has upgraded, ruining my habits

Published On: July 3, 2025

Greetings, AbbyRecently, the grocery store a mile from our home underwent a significant renovation and expansion. I’ve spent my whole life shopping there. There are two entrances and exits to the store. The door that is most handy for me is the one I have always used. I use the nearest door to enter and depart the business if what I need is on the east side.

Customers are currently only permitted to enter through one door and exit through the other due to the expansion and renovation. In order to stop customers from utilizing the incorrect door, gates will shortly be installed. I’m going to have surgery shortly because of my injury. It can be challenging to walk through the entire store to retrieve a few products that are close to the exit-only door. Older customers probably feel the same way.

Although I understand that the store is relying on impulsive purchases, this is incredibly unfriendly to customers. A company can succeed or fail based on the caliber of its customer service. Without clients, a business will not succeed. Please urge supermarket shops to alter their practices.– ANGRY INDEPENDENT BUYER IN OHIO

Greetings, ShopperI’ll give it my best shot, but I doubt the message will be taken seriously. I am aware that a lot of shoppers feel the same frustration you do. In my city, there are supermarkets in several neighborhoods. The management at my branch came up with the brilliant idea that reorganizing the store from the ground up will increase sales by making customers navigate aisles in search of once-easy-to-find commodities.

Since I now shop at a different store, I’m not sure how that has worked out for them. Take advantage of that if you can.

My husband still gives a lot of money to his ex

Greetings, AbbyMy husband and his ex-wife continue to communicate. Feeling remorseful, he paid her a hefty divorce settlement. She provided for him during his time in medical school, and he feels obligated to assist her whenever she needed money.

She didn’t ask for it the previous time, but he handed her a sizable sum of money after learning via his sister that she had filed for bankruptcy. I told him no when he expressed his desire to do it. I would have agreed if it had been for a medical purpose, but it’s not. After a few days, he told me he had visited her home and given her a check when I inquired whether he was still considering the proposal.

He is aware of how much this irritated me. He offered me three options: I could get a divorce, he would give me the same sum of money, or I could be satisfied that we could help her. Are they apples to your liking?

Despite my affection for him, my husband treats people too well. This time, I’m just not sure, but he gives me anything I ask for—which I don’t. He did confess his love for me, but he had to assist her. How should I proceed?– CURRENT TEXAS WIFE

Greetings, wife:You should be grateful that your husband can afford to be so giving if you truly love him. However, given that Texas is a community property state, you might want to speak with an attorney if you believe that his generosity has somehow let you down.

Other advice columns

Horoscope for today, June 30, 2025: The sky is a blank slate. What experience do you want to have?
Miss Manners: Was it rude for us to be eating while at the Paris opera?
Dear Annie: I can t stop bailing out my drug-addicted stepson
Asking Eric: My husband thinks it s fine that he goes days without showering or changing underwear

Abigail Van Buren, better known as Jeanne Phillips, wrote Dear Abby. Her mother, Pauline Phillips, created the company. For more information, visit www.DearAbby.com or send an email to P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.