Albertsons LLC to Close 13 Florida Stores

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons LLC here said Monday it plans to close 13 of its 17 stores in Florida, as well as a limited-line distribution center.

The retailer said it plans to operate the four remaining stores, which it described as its healthiest in the state. The four stores it will keep are in Altamonte Springs, Clearwater, Largo and Oakland Park. 

The 13 locations set to close encompass two stores in Apopka and single units in Bradenton, Key West, Lake Mary, Longwood, Port St. Lucie, Orlando, Sarasota, Valrico, Venice, Vero Beach and Winter Springs. All but the Key West store will begin liquidation sales May 9 and close around June 9, the company said; the Key West store, which will reportedly be acquired by Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla., has already started its liquidation sale and is scheduled to close April 28.

The in-store pharmacies will close between April 21 and April 24, the company said.

All the stores and the distribution center were acquired by Albertsons LLC from the original Albertsons chain in 2006.  The company sold the distribution center in Plant City two years ago to Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, Mich., and subsequently leased space at the facility for some fresh products, Chris Wilcox, a company spokeswoman, told SN.  Albertsons LLC plans to give up the space in August; the remaining stores will be served by a combination of DSD vendors and a service agreement with Supervalu, she said.

The shutdown will impact approximately 1,100 employees.

"We have extended associates the opportunity to look for positions in other states where we have stores, given that Florida has limited transfer possibilities," Wilcox said.

Anyone who can't move or be placed elsewhere will receive severance pay if they are eligible, she added.

Once the stores are closed, Albertsons LLC will operate 192 units in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.