Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the country, announced it would shutter about 60 stores across the United States in the next 18 months, or about 2% of the chain’s total presence as detailed in this article, Major U.S. supermarket chain to close 60 stores nationwide – All details and locations of Kroger’s surprise closure. The Cincinnati grocery giant made this announcement during its June 20, 2025, first-quarter earnings release as part of a larger strategy to enhance operating efficiency and profitability.
Financial incentive behind the store closures
Kroger’s move to close the underperforming stores is driven by cost pressures as it logged solid first-quarter performance. Kroger recorded a first-quarter impairment charge of $100 million related to the store closures, but anticipates a “modest financial benefit” from shuttering the underperforming stores. Even as overall sales slipped to $45.1 billion from $45.3 billion in the same period a year earlier, Kroger is seeking to extract as much as it can from its store base for improved profitability.
Interim CEO Ron Sargent spoke on the call of how the company bypassed its annual store review during the ill-fated Albertsons merger effort, saying, “Unfortunately today, not all of our stores are delivering the sustainable results we need”. The company will employ the savings from closing stores to improve customer experience in current stores.
Virginia hit the hardest
Virginia seems to be struck the most severely, with a minimum of five definite store closures, the worst-hit region, based on news available thus far. The definite Virginia closures include:
- Charlottesville: 1904 Emmett Street (closes August 22, impacting 81 employees)
- Abingdon: 466 South Cummings Street (closes September 19)
- Harris Teeter stores: McLean, Arlington (two of them), three other Harris Teeter stores
Georgia having major impact
Georgia is a close second with four reported Kroger store closures, all within the Atlanta metro area:
- Atlanta: 2452 Morosgo Way (closed July 19)
- Alpharetta: 11877 Douglas Road (closes August 16)
- Decatur: 3479 Memorial Drive (closes September 13)
- Brookhaven: 3855 Buford Highway (closes October 18)
Texas stores among the affected
Texas had closures in several locations, but no number is confirmed:
- McKinney: 1707 W. University Drive (closes by end of summer)
- Dickinson: 3410 Gulf Freeway (previously closed in June)
- The Woodlands: Sterling Ridge store (reportedly closed in May)
Illinois facing multiple closures
Illinois is facing deep impact through the typical Kroger stores as well as through Mariano’s stores, a subsidiary of Kroger:
- Peoria: 3311 N. Sterling Avenue (closing on or around August 2)
- Mariano’s stores: Buffalo Grove, Bloomingdale, and Northbrook stores (all closing on or around mid-August)
Full list of verifiably closed stores by state
According to local news and union statement, the following is the most extensive list of announced store closures:
- Wisconsin: Five Pick ‘n Save Stores
- Glendale: 1735 W. Silver Spring Drive
- Milwaukee: 3701 S. 27th Street and 2355 N. 35th Street
- South Milwaukee: 2931 S. Chicago Avenue
- Oak Creek: 2320 W. Ryan Road
Other states with announced closings
- Tennessee: Kingsport store at 1664 East Done Drive (closes September 19)
- Kentucky: Store at 4211 S. Third Street in Louisville
- West Virginia: Store at 2908 State Street in Gassaway (closing on August 22)
- Indiana: Stores in South Bend and Elkhart, and a Jay C store in Shoals
- Louisiana: Store at 4100 Barksdale Boulevard in Bossier City
- Maryland: Harris Teeter in Rockville
- North Carolina: Harris Teeter in Raleigh
Impact on employees and communities
In spite of all the closures, Kroger promised not to lay off any of its employees by using them in other stores. Kroger has about 410,000 associates in the United States and operates more than 2,700 stores in 35 states. The Kroger spokesperson once again assured that “Kroger will offer roles in other stores to all associates currently employed at affected stores.”
Nevertheless, the likelihood of such transfers remains unknown to most workers. United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 President Mark Federici made it clear that the threat to move workers “is not practical for many workers,” especially in rural settings where other plants are several miles away.
Community response and concerns
The closures have resulted in widespread neighborhood outrage, with residents of the targeted neighborhoods starting petitions to preserve their neighborhood stores. Abingdon, Virginia; Kingsport, Tennessee; and Charlottesville, Virginia residents launched campaigns that gathered over 1,500 signatures, where they begged, “Please don’t leave us behind” and gathered their years of support for the stores.
The closures are particularly concerning for communities that may become “food deserts” – areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious grocery options. Rural communities are especially vulnerable, as Kroger locations often serve as the primary grocery provider in smaller towns.
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