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Schnucks to close two Missouri stores

Chain continues to eye new locations in core St. Louis market

Russell Redman

March 27, 2019

2 Min Read
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Schnuck Markets Inc. plans to shut a pair of stores in Missouri over the next couple of months.

Schnucks said yesterday that it will close its store at 10634 St. Charles Rock Rd. in St. Ann, Mo., on May 5 because of poor sales. The St. Louis-based grocer also reported that it was unable to reach a lease renewal agreement for its store at 1275 North Truman Blvd. in Festus, Mo., and will shut down the location on June 30.

The company noted that the two stores’ approximately 130 employees will be offered transfers to nearby Schnucks locations and retain the same pay rate. Also, in the coming days, pharmacy customers at both stores will see signage indicating the dates that prescriptions will transfer to nearby Schnucks pharmacies.

“Since acquiring the St. Ann store, it has continued to operate at a significant deficit, and though we have explored many options, we simply do not see a strategy that would be effective in making the store profitable for us,” Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in a statement. “The difficult decision to close a store is a last resort, and we are always sensitive to the impact it can have. So we are especially grateful to be able to minimize some of that impact by preserving our teammates’ jobs and pay.”

Schnucks said it will look to sell or lease the property at the St. Ann’s location, which it owns. On Sunday, the supermarket chain also shut an underperforming store in Belleville, Ill. Schnucks had acquired the 71,500-square-foot store, whose closing was previously announced, as part of its 1995 purchase of National Supermarkets.

Related:Schnucks enhances rewards app

Overall, Schnucks now operates 118 supermarkets in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. The company said it will continue to seek potential new store sites in metropolitan St. Louis, where the chain operates more than 75% of its stores.

This past fall, Schnucks’ store base swelled after the company acquired 20 Shop ‘n Save locations in Missouri and Illinois, including one stand-alone pharmacy, from Supervalu Inc. Schnucks reopened the stores under its own banner in October.

During 2018, the retailer also opened stores in Warrenton and Maplewood, Mo., and closed two older stores in Rockford, Ill.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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