Detroit Farmer Jacks to Be Bought by Independents: Report
DETROIT -- Somewhat allaying residents' fears of living in a "supermarket desert," the two Farmer Jack stores in Detroit, which were scheduled to close by Saturday, will be bought by independent grocers, according to published reports.
Independent operator Mike's Fresh Market is the likely buyer of the store on Livernois at Seven Mile in a deal that is still being finalized, the Detroit News reported, adding that the grocer had plans to renovate the location.
The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 876 told the paper that an independent grocer had also agreed to buy the location on East Jefferson, although no information was available on the buyer.
Of the 66 Farmer Jack stores in southeast Michigan that were put up for sale by Montvale, N.J.-based A&P, 20 have been bought by Cincinnati-based Kroger. Other locations have gone to Flint, Mich.-based VG's Food & Pharmacy, Troy, Mich.-based Hollywood Market, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Busch's, and Southfield, Mich.-based Hiller's. About 20 stores haven't found owners.
Detroit no longer has a national chain supermarket presence, but is served by several smaller retailers and the historic Eastern Market public market district, in addition to German operator Aldi, which has two stores in the city.
Independent operator Mike's Fresh Market is the likely buyer of the store on Livernois at Seven Mile in a deal that is still being finalized, the Detroit News reported, adding that the grocer had plans to renovate the location.
The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 876 told the paper that an independent grocer had also agreed to buy the location on East Jefferson, although no information was available on the buyer.
Of the 66 Farmer Jack stores in southeast Michigan that were put up for sale by Montvale, N.J.-based A&P, 20 have been bought by Cincinnati-based Kroger. Other locations have gone to Flint, Mich.-based VG's Food & Pharmacy, Troy, Mich.-based Hollywood Market, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Busch's, and Southfield, Mich.-based Hiller's. About 20 stores haven't found owners.
Detroit no longer has a national chain supermarket presence, but is served by several smaller retailers and the historic Eastern Market public market district, in addition to German operator Aldi, which has two stores in the city.