‘Old’ Owen’s Supermarket To Close After 60 Years
February 27, 2019 at 5:23 p.m.
‘Old’ Owen’s Supermarket To Close After 60 Years
By David [email protected]
Kroger will be consolidating its Warsaw operations by closing the Market Street location.
In a news release provided this morning, Kroger’s Central Division announced the decision and said company leaders attribute the closing to the store’s ongoing poor financial performance.
“Kroger has long monitored operations, hoping the store could return to reliable profitability; however, the latest evaluations suggest such improvement is no longer realistic. Therefore, the store will close within 30 days,” the release states.
Warsaw customers will still be able to shop at the Owen’s at 2211 E. Center St. Parent company Kroger invested more than $4 million at that store to provide a new look and larger selection to serve all Kosciusko County shoppers.
Store associates will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Kroger stores in the area, the release states. Members of the human resources department will use the coming weeks to answer the team’s questions regarding the transition.
Company leaders praised the store’s 54 associates, saying the closing is not a reflection on them or their work. They have performed extremely well and have been committed to customer service in spite of the business challenges for their store. Kroger will continue to count on their dedication through the coming month.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said a representative of Kroger called him this morning and explained that the closing was due to a consolidation of the two stores.
“I certainly have concerns for those losing their jobs,” Thallemer said. “It’s been downtown a long time. It’s not something we’d like to see.”
Owen’s built the facility on Market Street in 1959, according to information from the mayor’s office. The Owen’s stores were sold to Kroger in 1997.
Thallemer said there are five grocery stores in the city and now none are downtown. All are on the east side of town.
“It’s certainly a convenience issue,” Thallemer said of Owen’s leaving the downtown. “That’s the way retail has been springing up in the community, but they’re where they want to be.
“The convenience of the downtown grocery store will certainly be missed.”
Amy Aguilar, who was shopping at the store this morning, agreed.
“It kind of sucks. I’ve been coming here for years. It’s going to hurt a lot of people in the neighborhood, especially the residents of Retired Tigers, who just walk down here,” she said.
Aguilar lives on the other side of Warsaw but drives across town to do her grocery shopping at the “old” Owen’s.
“I know where everything is. I don’t like the big grocery stores,” she said.
Sara McConnell also lives on the other side of town but shops at the Market Street Owen’s after dropping her son off at Presby Preschool.
“It’s convenient to shop here,” she said. “I am bummed about it. It’s been here my whole life.”
She said her biggest concern was that the people on the west side of town won’t have a convenient store to go to for their groceries. She also mentioned the residents of Retired Tigers Apartments.
The Kroger family of companies has been serving communities large and small for 135 years, according to the release. Kroger’s Central Division operates food stores, pharmacies and fuel centers primarily in Indiana and Illinois.
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Kroger will be consolidating its Warsaw operations by closing the Market Street location.
In a news release provided this morning, Kroger’s Central Division announced the decision and said company leaders attribute the closing to the store’s ongoing poor financial performance.
“Kroger has long monitored operations, hoping the store could return to reliable profitability; however, the latest evaluations suggest such improvement is no longer realistic. Therefore, the store will close within 30 days,” the release states.
Warsaw customers will still be able to shop at the Owen’s at 2211 E. Center St. Parent company Kroger invested more than $4 million at that store to provide a new look and larger selection to serve all Kosciusko County shoppers.
Store associates will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Kroger stores in the area, the release states. Members of the human resources department will use the coming weeks to answer the team’s questions regarding the transition.
Company leaders praised the store’s 54 associates, saying the closing is not a reflection on them or their work. They have performed extremely well and have been committed to customer service in spite of the business challenges for their store. Kroger will continue to count on their dedication through the coming month.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said a representative of Kroger called him this morning and explained that the closing was due to a consolidation of the two stores.
“I certainly have concerns for those losing their jobs,” Thallemer said. “It’s been downtown a long time. It’s not something we’d like to see.”
Owen’s built the facility on Market Street in 1959, according to information from the mayor’s office. The Owen’s stores were sold to Kroger in 1997.
Thallemer said there are five grocery stores in the city and now none are downtown. All are on the east side of town.
“It’s certainly a convenience issue,” Thallemer said of Owen’s leaving the downtown. “That’s the way retail has been springing up in the community, but they’re where they want to be.
“The convenience of the downtown grocery store will certainly be missed.”
Amy Aguilar, who was shopping at the store this morning, agreed.
“It kind of sucks. I’ve been coming here for years. It’s going to hurt a lot of people in the neighborhood, especially the residents of Retired Tigers, who just walk down here,” she said.
Aguilar lives on the other side of Warsaw but drives across town to do her grocery shopping at the “old” Owen’s.
“I know where everything is. I don’t like the big grocery stores,” she said.
Sara McConnell also lives on the other side of town but shops at the Market Street Owen’s after dropping her son off at Presby Preschool.
“It’s convenient to shop here,” she said. “I am bummed about it. It’s been here my whole life.”
She said her biggest concern was that the people on the west side of town won’t have a convenient store to go to for their groceries. She also mentioned the residents of Retired Tigers Apartments.
The Kroger family of companies has been serving communities large and small for 135 years, according to the release. Kroger’s Central Division operates food stores, pharmacies and fuel centers primarily in Indiana and Illinois.
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