Kathrine Frich
Finding a good deal on weekly groceries feels like a major victory for most families these days.
Budget shops have stepped up to fill that exact need across the country.
But now, one popular discount brand is unexpectedly packing up its shelves and leaving town.
Closing the doors
The discount supermarket chain Save A Lot is currently preparing to shut down a major location in Lewiston, Maine.
Local management has not yet announced an exact closing date for the struggling shop according to Express.
Savvy customers can currently take advantage of a final liquidation sale. The store is offering up to a ten percent discount across all of its remaining products.
This upcoming closure follows a surprisingly similar pattern for the sprawling retailer. According to the Daily Express, the company already shuttered big branches in Buffalo, New York, and Newark, New Jersey, earlier this year.
An emotional goodbye
The Lewiston branch actually received a massive refit just three years ago. Because of those recent upgrades, the sudden departure caught many regular local shoppers completely off guard.
Store officials took to social media last week to formally share the bad news with their loyal buyers. They described the difficult situation as “incredibly painful” for everyone involved.
“Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control we are no longer able to continue serving the community we’ve come to love so much,” the team announced online.
Moving in quickly
The massive retail building will not stay empty for very long. Reports show that a well-known grocery competitor is already poised to take over the abandoned space.
The grocery giant Hannaford plans to move into the sprawling 51,000-square-foot premises. This aggressive expansion will represent the brand’s second major outlet in the immediate area.
Construction crews will likely start flipping the massive building very soon. The fresh new supermarket is expected to open its doors to the public early next year.
Losing a lifeline
Following this specific shutdown, Save A Lot will only operate three remaining stores across the entire state of Maine. Local residents quickly voiced their deep frustration online.
One active Reddit user expressed genuine disappointment over the corporate switch. “Kind of a bummer they are being chased out by Hannaford,” the shopper wrote on the forum.
“They served a need for people in the area that’s not going to be replaced by Hannaford,” another disappointed user quickly added.
For some community members, the closure marks the sad end of a beloved family tradition. “My grandpa used to take me to Save a Lot and Caswells for a lot of our shopping, then Edward’s for lunch. Thanks for the memories,” a nostalgic customer shared.
Sources: Daily Express, social media, Reddit
