According to The Sun, Stop & Shop, a well-known grocery retailer with 397 locations nationwide, has confirmed the closure of its Worcester, Massachusetts store by November 2. Despite pleas from city officials, the company stated that the decision is final, and efforts to keep the store open have not succeeded.
Stephanie Cunha, the regional retail communications leader for Stop & Shop, confirmed the Worcester closure in a statement to MassLive earlier this week
Massachusetts Store Closure Part of Broader Shutdown
The Worcester location is one of eight Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts scheduled to close by the end of 2024. The closures also affect stores in Brockton, Halifax, Newton, Pembroke, Raynham, Shrewsbury, and Springfield. In total, 32 Stop & Shop stores across five states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, will be shuttered.
32 closing Stop & Shop locations
Stop & Shop has announced the closure of 32 location in the Northeast.
All the stores will be closed on or before November 2.
Connecticut:
- 100 Division St., Ansonia
- 211 High St., Torrington
- 1937 West Main St., Stamford
- 855 Bridgeport Ave., Milford
- 72 Newtown Road, Danbury
Massachusetts:
- 932 North Montello St., Brockton
- 36 New State Highway, Raynham
- 341 Plymouth St., Halifax
- 539-571 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
- 165 Needham St., Newton
- 415 Cooley St., Springfield
- 545 Lincoln St. Worcester
- 24 Mattakeesett St., Pembroke
New Jersey:
- 1083 Inman Ave., Edison
- 1049 US Highway 1 South, Edison
- 4861 US Highway 9, Howell
- 1278 US Highway 22, Phillipsburg
- 581 Stelton Rd., Piscataway
- 625 Paterson Ave., Carlstadt
- 1221 State Route 27, Franklin Township
- 130 Skyline Dr., Ringwood
- 505 Richmond Ave, Point Pleasant Beach
- 2275 West County Line Rd., Jackson
New York:
- 2965 Cropsey Ave., Brooklyn
- 130 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale
- 7 Samsondale Plaza, West Haverstraw
- 294 Middle Country Road, Coram
- 240 East Sanford Blvd., Mt. Vernon
- 132 Fulton Ave., Hempstead
- 2525 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow
Rhode Island:
- 11 Commerce Way, Johnston
- 176 Pittman St., Providence
Impact on Employees and Community
Employees at the Worcester store will have the opportunity to transfer to two other Stop & Shop locations in the city. The company has emphasized its commitment to retaining staff by offering other opportunities within the organization. However, local customers and city officials have expressed concerns about the impact of the closure on the community, particularly due to crime in the area and competition from other grocery chains like Aldi and Market Basket.
Customer Reactions Highlight Local Concerns
The announcement of the closure sparked reactions from customers as per facebook post, many of whom pointed to high theft and increased competition as contributing factors. Some also expressed disappointment over the loss of a crucial grocery store in that part of Worcester, raising concerns about the future of the neighborhood and the potential for further business closures.
