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Natural Grocers closes its first store ever

Specialty chain said Tulsa store has underperformed

Russell Redman

September 12, 2018

1 Min Read
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Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. plans to shut a store in Tulsa, Okla., which will mark the first store closing in the 63-year-old chain’s history.

Lakewood, Colo.-based Natural Grocers said Tuesday that it will close its Tulsa-Central store at 9137 East 71st St. by Nov. 9. The retailer noted that the store was underperforming and the company has been engaged in efforts to improve operating efficiencies across its store base.

Plans call for a store closing sale to launch on Sept. 17 at the Tulsa-Central Store, which will offer discounts of 25% off all products.

The Tulsa-Central store employs 16 people. Natural Grocers said it will work to transfer some of those employees to its other stores in Oklahoma. All other staff will be offered a severance package, with health benefits covered through the end of this year.

Going forward, Natural Grocers said it can serve the Tulsa market with its store at 3126 South Harvard Ave., which is less than eight miles from the Tulsa-Central store.

Currently, there are no plans to close other stores, according to Natural Grocers. Founded in 1955, the supermarket chain — which specializes in natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements — operates 148 stores in 19 states.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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