Ralphs will close its location at 2030 E. Lincoln Ave. on Sept. 25, the company confirmed this week.
The Kroger-owned traditional format grocery store has slowly downsized its presence in Orange County.
In 2006, the company operated 51 Ralphs locations and eight Food 4 Less locations in Orange County. Ralphs currently has 41 local stores and five Food 4 Less locations.
In July, Ralphs closed a Tustin location on Irvine Boulevard, off Newport Avenue, at the Tustin Heights Shopping Center.
In September, the market is scheduled to be converted to Tustin’s first Smart & Final.
Ralphs is among a handful of grocery brands finding it tough to compete in Southern California, including Orange County.
On Aug. 14, Haggen announced it would close four of its 11 Orange County locations within 60 days. Exact closure dates have not been announced.
This summer, El Segundo-based Fresh & Easy closed 14 stores, including locations in Fountain Valley, Lake Forest and Seal Beach.
Bellingham-Wash.-based Haggen debuted in Orange County this spring after acquiring stores from the Alberstons-Safeway merger. In a list provided by the company, 27 stores were slated for closure, including 16 in California.
The Orange County locations slated for closure are:
• Irvine: Portola Parkway
• Mission Viejo: Los Alisos Boulevard
• Tustin: 17th Street
• Tustin: E. First Street
The fate of the remaining seven stores in Orange County is unknown.
Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans