Lowes Closing 2 N.C. Stores

Lowes Foods LLC will close two stores in Winston-Salem, N.C.’s Triangle area by Sept. 14. The locations are in Cary's Cornerstone Village and on 2900 East Millbrook Road.

The move comes shortly after Publix revealed it would open supermarkets in the area, as part of its “aggressive” penetration into the state.

Employees from both stores will be offered positions at nearby Lowes locations, the company said, stressing that the closings wouldn’t cause associates to lose their jobs. The grocer operates eleven other Triangle locations, including stores in Garner, Cary, Raleigh, Clayton and Apex.

Merchandise in both stores began to be progressively discounted on Aug. 16, with 10 percent off all dairy, grocery and frozen items, excluding milk, eggs, services, lottery and gift cards. On Aug. 23, shoppers will get 25 percent off the same items, while on Sept. 4 they’ll get 40 percent off, in addition to 25 percent off all fresh items, except for bananas. Additionally, Fresh Rewards, Gas Rewards and store-assigned promotions and coupons at the affected stores are being accepted at all other Lowes locations.

The company expressed gratitude to affected employees and their families, along with local shoppers “for their dedication, understanding, flexibility and loyalty during this time of transition.”

Lowes, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hickory, N.C.-based full-service food distributor Alex Lee Inc., employs nearly 9,000 people and operates more than 100 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.