For seven years, Barb and Steve Meng have owned and operated US Cellular stores in Southern Oregon and Northern California. In 2006, they opened their first store on Main Street in Klamath Falls.The Meng's expanded their business to five locations after they were strongly encouraged by their regional director to do so at their own expense. In spite of the economy, they have effectively grown their businesses to the benefit of US Cellular, until they were forced by corporate to close their doors without any explanation or option of buyout.

In April, without any warning, the Meng's were told that they were to close all of their stores. Now the Meng's are in debt to US Cellular Corporate in addition to personal loans they have used to grow their business. 

Since the closures, US Cellular has reopened most of the closed stores with new corporate management. If it wasn't enough to take the Meng's livelihood and force them into potential bankruptcy, now they have to drive down the street of their community and see their businesses being operated by someone else.

Steve and Barb Meng are well respected and very involved in our community. It is unfathomable that this can happen to anyone. Legal or not, this mis-conduct of corporate greed needs to be made right. US Cellular should not only apologize to the Meng's, but should, at the very least, offer to buy them back at a reasonable price.