Lucky’s Market confirmed reports that it is closing most of its stores, including two in Northeast Florida, and keeping seven open across the country.
It anticipates closing the stores over the next three weeks as it completes going-out-of-business sales.
The Jacksonville area stores are in Neptune Beach and Oakleaf. The Oakleaf store opened May 22 at 8380 Merchants Way. The Neptune Beach store at 580 Atlantic Blvd. opened in 2016.
The Boulder, Colorado-based natural foods grocer issued a news release Jan. 23 and did not say how many stores will close. Supermarket News reported Lucky’s Market will shut 32 stores. It operates in 10 states.
Lucky’s Market said it began closing stores Jan. 22 as part of its restructuring efforts “after exploring multiple alternatives.”
It also will reduce staff at Lucky’s Market’s support office in Niwot, Colorado, the headquarters near Boulder.
Lucky’s Market stores that will remain open comprise one in Melbourne; two in Ohio in Cleveland and Columbus; two in Colorado in North Boulder and Fort Collins; and one each in Traverse City, Michigan, and Columbia, Missouri.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Jan. 21 that the 20 Florida stores will close Feb. 12 and liquidation sales would begin Jan. 22.
In December, Kroger, an investor in Lucky’s, announced that after three years it would divest its stake in the grocer.