Stop & Shop, a popular grocery chain with 397 stores, announces the closure of another store despite requests from the city

Accordingly The sunStop & Shop, a well-known grocery retailer with 397 stores across the country, has confirmed the closure of its store in Worcester, Massachusetts, until November 2. Despite pleas from city officials, the company said the decision was final and efforts to keep the store open had been unsuccessful.

Stephanie Cunha, Stop & Shop’s regional retail communications manager, confirmed the Worcester closure in a statement to MassLive earlier this week

Store closures in Massachusetts are part of a broader shutdown

The Worcester location is one of eight Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts scheduled to close by the end of 2024. The closures also affect stores in Brockton, Halifax, Newton, Pembroke, Raynham, Shrewsbury and Springfield. In total, 32 Stop & Shop stores will close in five states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

32 Stop & Shop locations will be closed

Impact on employees and community

Employees at the Worcester store will have the opportunity to transfer to two other Stop & Shop stores in the city. The company has underscored its commitment to employee retention by providing other opportunities within the company. However, local customers and city officials have raised concerns about the impact of the closure on the community, particularly due to crime in the area and competition from other grocery chains such as Aldi and Market Basket.

Customer reactions underline local concerns

The closure announcement sparked reactions from customers, according to a Facebook post, with many pointing to high theft rates and increased competition as contributing factors. Some also expressed disappointment at the loss of a major grocery store in that part of Worcester and raised concerns about the future of the neighborhood and the possibility of more store closures.