Weis Acquires 2 Units, Will Reopen 1

Weis Markets said it has entered into an agreement to acquire two supermarket locations in Northeast Pennsylvania from TCD Realty, but said it would convert and reopen just one of them.

Thomas’ Foodtown, in Dallas, Pa., will be converted and reopened as a Weis store shortly after the transaction is complete in the fourth quarter, Weis said. The other store in the deal, known as Thomas’ Food Basics in Shavertown, Pa., will not reopen.

The Dallas and Shavertown stores are less than three miles apart.

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis said the acquisition would provide Weis with seven stores in Luzerne County, Pa. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

TCD reportedly reopened the Shavertown location—a former Foodtown store—under the discount Food Basics concept in July. Foodtown and Food Basics are brands controlled by Iselin, N.J.-based Allegiance Retail Services and operated by independent retailers.

The sale continues a trend among independents in the Keystone State selling to their larger counterparts: Earlier this year the Ferguson & Hassler and Darrenkamp’s owners separately sold or closed units, with Ahold Delhaize’s Giant Food Stores acquiring stores from both companies and Karns Quality Foods taking over one of the four Darrenkamps units.

“We have great respect for the operators and associates of Thomas’ Foodtown and Food Basics in Dallas and Shavertown and look forward to continuing to serve the Dallas area,” said Jonathan Weis, Weis Markets’ chairman, president and CEO. “We look forward to interviewing their associates for possible employment with our company.”