Ohio Tops to Close Today; 29 Stores Sold

CARLISLE, Pa. - All remaining Tops Markets locations in Ohio are set to close today at 3 p.m., Tops officials here said. As of Thursday, Ahold-owned Tops had sold 29 of the 46 Tops locations it sought to sell, and said additional contracts could be finalized in coming weeks. Tops identified new buyers, including Rego's Fresh Market, Westlake, Ohio (two locations), and single-property buyers Heinen's, Crystal Capital, Cascade Management Services and local grocery veteran Steve Rogers, all based in Cleveland. Two stores will be turned back over to their landlords. Previously, Tops said Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle would purchase 19 locations, with four of them to be operated by Dave's Supermarkets. Zagara's Marketplace, Cleveland Hights; and Buehler's Food Markets, Wooster, Ohio, have also purchased sites.