Rouses Buys Two Stores in Mississippi

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

THIBODAUX, La. — Rouses Markets here said it has agreed to acquire two Choice Markets in Mississippi to fill in the gap between its stores in Gulfport, Miss., and Slidell, La. Donald Rouse, president, said his company did not acquire the third Choice location, in Gulfport, Miss., because of lease restrictions and because it already has a store there; however, he said the company bought the equipment at the Gulfport location and will lease it to Choice so it can continue to operate there until the store's lease runs out in a year. The two stores Rouses is acquiring are both 35,000 square feet. Rouse told SN the company will operate the store in Long Beach, Miss., as is but will eventually replace the store in Diamondhead, Miss., with a larger unit. He said the deal is expected to close later this month, after which the stores will be closed for two days for remerchandising. With the acquisition, Rouses will have four stores in Mississippi and 30 in Louisiana.

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