Four huge grocery stores including Walmart are closing multiple locations from this month – see if yours is on the list

YOUR favorite place where you shop for groceries might be or has already closed starting in January. 

Reasons retailers close locations vary but it could be due to financial reasons, performance, or an unexpected disaster. 

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And this month, multiple chains have decided to shutter stores. 

1. WALMART

In Walmart’s case, it has suffered separate fires at two locations in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Walmart confirmed to The U.S. Sun today that both occurred in late December, and the stores were forced to close – with one going out of business for good.

“After a thorough review of all factors related to our Vine City and Howell Mill Road stores, we have made the decision to reopen our Vine City location as a Walmart Neighborhood Market and permanently close our Howell Mill Road location,” a spokesperson said.

The company added that while both stores dealt with “economic headwinds,” it determined that the Howell Mill Road location is not worth reopening “due to site restrictions.” 

However, it did say that it “will work with Mayor Dickens and his office to find a new use or business for the site.”

Those who were shopping at the Howell Mill Road location can visit the Cascade store at 1105 Research Center Drive, Atlanta, as it’s the closest one nearby. 

It’s unclear when but the store in Vine City will reopen and continue to meet grocery and pharmacy needs, Walmart said.

According to the big-box retailer, it has more than 5,300 stores in the US, which includes 600 Sam’s Club locations. 

2. PIGGY WIGGLY

Piggy Wiggly will soon start closing multiple locations for good.

One in Lexington, South Carolina, will be shutting down permanently and all grocery items will be 25 percent off (excluding “fresh” departments), according to a Facebook post.

“We are sad to say our store will be closing on February 5th,” it said. 

“Thank you to all our loyal customers, we will miss you!” 

And another location will be closing on 709 East Capitol Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

No date has been provided, but the company’s senior director said in an email that “employee separations” are expected to begin “during the 14-day period commencing on March 18, 2023.” 

“This action will be permanent, and the entire store will close,” the message read.

Piggly Wiggly reportedly has more than 500 stores in the US.

3. IGA 

The IGA grocery chain is shutting doors in its Aurora, Indiana, location, local radio station WSCH reports.

The store owner told the station that after a five-year lease, it will permanently close on January 2 due to “reduced foot traffic and negative profits.”

“We’ve enjoyed taking care of the customers, there just wasn’t enough of them,” the owner told the radio station.

IGA reportedly has more than 1,000 stores in the country.

4. STOP & SHOP 

Stop & Shop’s stores can be found in the northeast of the US – and some shoppers will be affected there too.

Stop & Shop confirmed to The U.S. Sun that a store in Brooklyn, New York’s Flatbush neighborhood closed on January 19.

A Food Bazaar store is now located in that space. 

Also, a location in Highland Park, New Jersey, will close on March 23. 

“Stop & Shop conducts reviews of its business performance on a regular basis, and these stores were identified as underperforming relative to financial expectations,” a company spokesperson said. 

The grocery chain has more than 400 locations including in New York, the New England area, and New Jersey.

The U.S. Sun reached out to IGA and Piggly Wiggly for comment.

OTHER RETAIL SHUTTERS

Grocery stores aren’t the only ones going out of business.

CVS and Walgreens are set to start closing locations starting next week.

Locations in Illinois, Texas, Vermont, and Washington DC will be affected.

Other retailers like Big Lots and Macy’s plan to close multiple locations within the next few months.

And Bed Bath & Beyond will also close 150 stores nationwide.

The increase in store closures has been dabbed as the “retail apocalypse.”

It comes as more shoppers purchase their goods online, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

For more related stories, Dollar General, Five Below, and Family Dollar announce major store changes.

And 11 tricks helped a shopper cut her grocery bill by $100.