Kroger Closing Two Local Stores Next Month

Kroger recently confirmed that it plans to close at least two local stores next month.  The stores are located in DeKalb and Fulton counties and will not immediately be replaced by other stores. 

Inside the Kroger at Northridge shopping center

The stores slated for closure are located at 965 N. Hairston Road at Hairston Village in Stone Mountain and 8331 Roswell Road at Northridge shopping center in Sandy Springs.

The Stone Mountain store is located near the intersection of N. Hairston Road and Memorial Drive.  It opened in 1989 as a Big Star and later was an A&P from 1993-1999.  The current Kroger is just shy of 53,000 square feet and features a 14 pump fuel center.  The fuel center was added in the last ten years. While I don't have exact figures, it surely represents a significant capital expense.  Additionally, the store has received a number of renovations, the most recent of which occurred in the past five years, according to local sources.  A release from Kroger's Tucker-based regional offices indicates that the store had been in business nearly 18 years and is due to close October 13.   

The Sandy Springs store is located near the intersection of Roswell Road and Northridge Parkway and is just under 42,000 square feet.  Local sources indicate that Kroger had previously sought to expand the small, more than 35 year old store within the center, but had decided to close it after being unable to reach an agreement on the expansion.  The Northridge Kroger has not received an update in many years, and is one of few stores in the market so dated.  The store is expected to close October 25.  

Kroger Atlanta's Corporate Affairs Manager Felix B. Turner said in separate statements that the stores “experienced declining sales and negative profit over an extended period of time.”   

Kroger says it “remains committed to the Atlanta area” 

All 138 associates of the Stone Mountain store and 89 associates of the Sandy Springs store will be considered for reassignment to other Kroger locations, according to the release.  

The nearest remaining Kroger in Stone Mountain is located on South Hairston Road, 3.5 miles away.  The nearest remaining Kroger to the Sandy Springs store is about 3.8 miles away on Dunwoody Club Drive. 

This past May, Kroger closed its store at Mountain View Village shopping center on US 78 in Snellville.  The approximately 59,000 square foot store opened in 1987 and had been renovated a number of times and also saw the addition of a Kroger Fuel Center years ago.  Kroger said that the decision to close the store was due to "declining sales."

Site work is currently underway for a new large format Kroger store at Northside Drive and 17th Street behind IKEA while plans for a number of other stores are "being re-examined."  

Are you surprised that Kroger has decided to close additional stores?  Where do you do most of your shopping?  Do you drive out of your way to patronize a specific grocer?

Please share your thoughts below.  

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