Updated to include statement from Lucky's in second and third paragraphs.
Lucky’s Market, a national grocery chain that was on a major growth spurt in Florida, is canceling those expansion plans and closing nearly all of its stores in the Sunshine State and across the country.
A Lucky’s spokeswoman confirmed the store closings across the country during the next three weeks, as well as a reduction in its headquarters staff near Boulder, Colorado.
The chain is closing 20 of its 21 stores in Florida after Kroger cut its financial backing in December. The only Florida store to remain open is in West Melbourne, the spokeswoman said. The Florida store is one of seven Lucky's location to remain open across the country, the spokeswoman said. The other stores staying open are in Traverse City, Michigan; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Columbia, Missouri; and North Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado.
Lucky’s website previously listed 41 stores in 10 states. The chain is known for its organic and natural foods and a customer experience that encourages patrons to drink beer and wine while they shop.
Lucky’s previously listed on its website 14 store openings in Florida for 2020. One of those was planned at the Uptown Boca development in suburban Boca Raton, but a spokeswoman for the project's developers said Tuesday that the developers declined to comment.
While the chain had developed a modest following, it didn’t have enough stores in Florida to effectively compete against Publix Super Markets, the state’s dominant grocer, said Dave Preston, executive managing director for retail services for Colliers International in Miami. What’s more, Lucky’s prices didn’t always beat Publix and the product selection wasn’t consistently better, he said.
“To compete with Publix, you have to do one or both of those,” Preston said in an interview.
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