Harris Teeter Bows Out of Nashville

Declaring that the Nashville market does not support Harris Teeter's future business plans, parent company The Kroger Co. is converting three stores in the Music City to its own banner and closing a fourth location.

The move comes a year after Kroger's $2.5 million acquisition of the popular southeastern regional retailer, which operates as a subsidiary of the Cincinnati-based grocery giant.

"Leaving a market is a difficult decision, but opening and closing stores is a necessary part of the retail industry," Harris Teeter spokesperson Danna Jones told The Tennessean.

Three HT stores in Nashville will close around June 15 and will be converted to the Kroger banner, with reopenings scheduled during 2016 -- the first in January and the next around Thanksgiving. "Each [remodel] will be different and those plans are being worked on as we speak,” Kroger spokesperson Melissa Eads told The Tennessean. 

The fourth store to be closed joins another Nashville-area location that closed in February. The decision not to convert the fourth store was based on its proximity to other Kroger stores in the area, The Tennessean reported.

Kroger is encouraging Harris Teeter employees to apply with the company, which has openings at several locations. Meanwhile, the Harris Teeter banner will continue to operate in its other markets.