Kroger Rebuffs Cincinnati Mayor’s Plea to Keep Store Open

MICHAEL GARRY

CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. turned down Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory’s request Friday to keep a store in the low-income Roselawn neighborhood open while the community transitions to other grocery options, according to a release from Mallory’s office. Mallory said he was “disturbed” by Kroger’s decision to close the store on April 25.

Mallory and other officials met with representatives of Kroger this morning, asking the retailer to delay the closing for a few months so that “the city, members of the community and Kroger could work together to help the community transition,” the release said. “I understand that Kroger has a business to run, but as mayor, I have to make sure that citizens have access to quality grocery options,” he said.

Kroger, which is based here, is closing the Roselawn store because it “has been unprofitable for a sustained period of time,” spokeswoman Meghan Glynn told SN. “Kroger operates stores in city neighborhoods in Cincinnati. We have a strong commitment to the city and to the region. We employ more than 17,000 people here and we’re proud to serve customers in all areas of the community.”

Last year, Mallory met with Kroger officials about a store in the Walnut Hills section that was slated to be closed. In that case, the company kept the store open and invested in turning it around, eliciting praise from the mayor for its “commitment to the Cincinnati community,” according to the mayor’s release. “Mayor Mallory is disappointed that this time Kroger was not as willing to talk and work together on the Roselawn store, the release said.

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