Stop & Shop set to close 7 Massachusetts stores, donate remaining food
WORCESTER - Seven Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts will be closing permanently on Thursday, a company spokesperson confirmed to WBZ-TV. The remaining groceries at the shuttered supermarkets will be going to those in need.
The closure of 32 "underperforming" stores across five states was announced back in July.
Stop & Shop stores closing in Massachusetts
The locations closing in Massachusetts are:
- 932 North Montello St., Brockton
- 36 New State Highway, Raynham
- 341 Plymouth St., Halifax
- 539-571 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
- 415 Cooley St., Springfield (1600 Boston Rd. and 1277 Liberty St., Springfield will remain open)
- 545 Lincoln St. Worcester (940 West Boylston St. and 949 Grafton St., Worcester will remain open)
- 24 Mattakeesett St., Pembroke (125 Church St., Pembroke will remain open)
A Newton supermarket operating under Stop & Shop's bfresh Market brand closed this summer. Rhode Island will see Stop & Shop stores in Johnston and Providence (Eastside Marketplace) close. Stop & Shop is also closing stores in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.
Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement earlier this year that the company "made the difficult decision to close underperforming stores to create a healthy base for the future growth of our brand."
Customers, employees concerned
For a lot of people, losing these stores is about more than inconvenience. Customers in Brockton filled up their carriages for the last time Wednesday night, getting their groceries from the thinned out but very familiar Stop & Shop shelves before the doors closed for good.
"I'm a loyal Stop & Shop-er," said Brockton customer Jean Woodberry. "So basically, my option is going to other neighborhoods and getting familiar with them. Their prices are a little bit more, a little bit higher."
For some shoppers, it's not just about finding a new spot, but getting there. Longtime employees can't help but think of the familiar faces who walk to get their food or earn a living.
"That's the big concern for them," said longtime Stop & Shop employee Jamine Paul. "They would say yes, I'm going to miss the store, but it was such a convenience for me to just walk versus finding a ride, taking the bus, trying to not do Instacart."
"This is on a bus route. It's convenient," said Brockton shopper Rubin Bullock. "There's a Walmart down the street or Shaw's on the other side of town. But it's like three to four miles out of the way."
Closed Stop & Shop stores will donate groceries
Stop & Shop said the stores closing in Massachusetts "will be working with their existing local partners to ensure that unsold products are donated to those in need." Stores have also found local animal shelters to pick up pet food and other supplies.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported that the Shrewsbury and Worcester Stop & Shop stores that landed on the closing list will be donating whatever food is left to the Worcester County Food Bank.
All Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast already partner with local food pantries, soup kitchens and food rescue organizations throughout the year.
"Stop & Shop was one of Worcester County Food Bank's earliest donors of nonperishable food and financial supporters," Worcester County Food Bank CEO Jean McMurray told the newspaper. "We expect food donations to Worcester County Food Bank and our partner agencies to continue from the remaining five Stop & Shop supermarkets in Worcester County."