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Publix buying 10 Richmond-area MARTIN’S stores

Posted at 2:52 PM, Jul 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-13 14:53:48-04

RICHMOND, Va. – Publix Super Markets Inc. is purchasing 10-area MARTIN'S stores, the Lakeland, Florida-based grocery chain confirms to CBS 6. The remaining nine stores up for sale will remain open for now, but MARTIN'S will be gone from the area with-in a year, according to a CBS 6 tipster.

The tipster said the news was told to the store managers of 19-area MARTIN'S during a 2 p.m. meeting at the Sheraton Hotel at the airport.

The 10 MARTIN’s locations will continue to operate until the Publix permitting process is completed. Grand opening dates for the Publix’s locations will depend on remodeling and completion of the stores’ construction.

The announcement of a pending sale for MARTIN’S had been expected since mid-June, as ordered by the Federal Trade Commission.  A year ago Delhaize and Ahold, the parent companies of grocery chains Food Lion and MARTIN’S respectively, merged into one company.

The purchase is contingent on the Federal Trade Commission’s approval and clearance of the merger between Aholdand Delhaize Group.

The 10 stores are located in Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond, and Colonial Heights.

Those locations include:

  • 3107 Boulevard #15 Colonial Heights, VA
  • 10150 Brook Rd Glen Allen, VA
  • 9645 W. Broad Glen Allen, VA
  • 10250 Staple Mill Rd Glen Allen, VA
  • 13700 Hull Street Rd. Midlothian, VA
  • 3522 W Cary St, Richmond, VA
  • 3460 Pump Rd Richmond, VA
  • 2250 John Rolfe Pkwy Richmond, VA
  • 7055 Three Chopt Richmond, VA
  • 4591 South Laburnum Ave Richmond, VA

Sources said employees at these locations will lose their jobs and will need to re-apply once Publix takes over. Publix will hold job fairs closer to grand opening dates and encourages impacted MARTIN’S employees to apply for employment.

This comes after the FTC did not want one company to possess a larger than normal share of an area through a merger. The newly-formed company had to sell over 80 stores along the east coast, and the list included 19 local MARTIN’S stores.

The sale of the MARTIN’S properties was likely seen as a better sale option than the local Food Lions, which are typically smaller than MARTIN’S and few have pharmacy locations.

Publix CEO & President Todd Jones commented on the purchase, “Acquiring these 10 locations aligns with Publix’s aggressive growth plan for the commonwealth of Virginia. We are looking forward to providing Virginians with the high-quality service and products our customers have come to expect and have earned us recognition throughout the industry.”

The remaining MARTIN's stores for sale includes nine Richmond-area locations and a Staunton store:

  • 253 N. Washington Hwy Ashland, VA
  • 12601 Jefferson Davis Hwy Chester, VA
  • 6401 Centralia Rd. Chesterfield, VA
  • 200 Charter Colony Pkwy Midlothian, VA
  • 10001 Hull St. Rd. Richmond, VA
  • 7045 Forest Hill Ave Richmond, VA
  • 5700 Brook Rd Richmond, VA
  • 11361 Midlothian Tpke Richmond, VA
  • 5201 Chippenham Crossing Ctr. Richmond, VA
  • 1015 Richmond Ave. Staunton, VA

GIANT stores in the Fredericksburg area have also been targeted for sale.

Since the news broke, dozens of frustrated workers have been anxious to know the real ramifications and have rallied to keep their jobs amid any sale. With nearly 4,000 full-time employees, Food Lion was ranked among the Top 10 local employers, according to a list compiled by the Richmond Times Dispatch. Martin’s was not on the list.

July will be a big month for the chain that acquired Ukrop’s six years ago, the retirement of the family owned businesses contributed to a shift in local grocery retail.

Three MARTIN’S will shut down for good: 3330 South Crater Rd., Petersburg, 7324 Bell Creek Rd., Mechanicsville and 3000 Stony Point Rd., Richmond.

Publix announced plans in February 2016 to build the company’s first Central Virginia location, off Nuckols Road in Henrico. The Glen Allen store will be about 49,000 square feet and plans to open in 2018.

From the beginning Publix had been widely rumored to be the purchasers of MARTIN’S.

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