TWO popular supermarket chains have closed several locations in the same city after a merger, leaving some fans upset.
Retailers confirmed the closure of at least 35 stores on Tuesday.
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Customers who frequented Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market in Chicago, Illinois will be forced to find alternatives immediately, for Chicago Club Block.
Signs were posted at both of the city’s luxury chains so shoppers could see, before entering, that they would be permanently closed.
In total, 33 Foxtrot stores and two Dom’s Kitchen & Market stores closed.
Foxtrot also had stores in Austin, Dallas and Washington DC.
Read more about store closures
The merger between the two brands was announced in November 2023, paving the way for the creation of Outfox Hospitality.
Company executives noted upon confirmation of the merger that the move would aid the brand’s growth and help Foxtrot’s financial struggles following significant layoffs.
“We have explored many avenues to continue the business but have found no viable options despite good faith and exhaustive efforts,” Outfox Hospitality said in a statement about the closures.
“We understand this news may come as a shock and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
“We genuinely appreciate your understanding during this challenging time.”
Many customers and employees were seen looking confused and surprised outside stores on Tuesday, according to Block Club Chicago.
Photos showed employees hugging each other and leaving merchandise behind as customers tried to grab the last of their favorite grocery items.
Several fans expressed their surprise and disappointment.
SPECIAL STORES
“As someone who finds meaning in buying overpriced and over-commercialized snacks[,] I am personally devastated by this Foxtrot news,” wrote a customer on X, formerly Twitter.
Others repeated that they were “devastated,” claiming they moved to Chicago in part because of Foxtrot.
“I partially moved to Chicago for Foxtrot,” one fan told Block Club Chicago.
“Like, my apartment is literally two doors down and I saw this ad and I was like ‘oh my god, this is so convenient’.”
“They have the best selection of everything,” the shopper continued.
“I had a budget, in my line items, for Foxtrot.”
Another said he went to the grocery store “literally every day” and felt like customers were “not warned.”
EMPLOYEE FURY
Some employees, like Kayla Pineda, were frustrated with what this meant for their income and the income of their colleagues.
Kayla said she was informed of the mass closures by phone from her manager on Tuesday morning.
“Fortunately, I always keep an updated resume,” she said.
“But for other people who are just relying on work, people who don’t have side hustles or anything like that, this is just their main income.”
“It sucks,” she added.
A neighborhood customer also sympathized with the employees, saying “the rug was ripped out from under them.”
Companies in Illinois are legally required to give at least 60 days notice before mass layoffs if they have 75 or more employees.
It is unclear whether this action was taken by Outfox Hospitality.
For more related content, check out The US Sun’s coverage of the full list of 100 Express stores closing after the retailer files for bankruptcy.
The US Sun also broke the story of a grocery store that suddenly closed for good and allegedly gave workers three days’ notice.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
