The struggling supermarket chain warned the state Monday that that it is prepared to close the stores—including 11 in the Indianapolis area—within 60 days if it can't find buyer for the company.
The latest announced closings, seven of which are in the Indianapolis area, bring the total number of Marsh grocery stores that are set to shut their doors this month to 19.
As grocery stores continue to close throughout the city, residents who don’t have reliable access to transportation have seen their options for local groceries continue to dwindle.
State law prohibits grocery stores without pharmacies from selling spirits, prompting Marsh to offer big discounts on its inventory.
The struggling grocery chain told employees Friday morning that it plans to discontinue pharmacy operations and has sold customer prescription files to a national drug store chain.
Whole Foods Market Inc. shares rose the most in two weeks after the Financial Times reported that Albertsons Cos. is considering a takeover of the organic grocer.
The seven closings come on top of three other store closures that Marsh confirmed earlier this week.
Heavy rain in California’s Salinas Valley has squeezed U.S. salad supplies and it may be a several more weeks before supermarket shelves are fully stocked again.
The three closures include a store involved in a lawsuit filed by a landlord that accuses Marsh of not paying rent at the site.
The Marsh chain continues to downsize amid growing competition. The store on East 86th Street has struggled to attract customers since a Kroger opened across the street in 2010.
Despite several attempts to break into industry over almost a decade, the company has struggled to entice shoppers en masse to buy eggs, steaks and berries online the same way they’ve flocked to buy books, tablets and toys.
Struggling Marsh Supermarkets has stopped paying rent on six Indianapolis stores, a move that might suggest the struggling chain is preparing to close them to shore up finances.
The regional retailer, which has about a dozen superstores in the area, said it will offer the service beginning in April through outside vendor Shipt Inc.
Grocery chains, convenience stores and pharmacies have pushed for years to have Indiana's eight decades-old ban lifted and be able to sell alcohol on Sundays, but a compromise has been elusive.
Marsh Supermarkets, which has been showing signs of struggle amid growing competition, plans to close the store Jan. 28. The location is where Marsh opened its first Indianapolis store, in 1957.
Contractors and at least one landlord say Marsh Supermarkets has fallen behind on rent and other bills—a development that suggests the locally based chain is facing heightened financial strain.
Michigan-based SpartanNash said part of the allure of Caito was its newly built, $32 million "Fresh Kitchen" in Indianapolis, which will process, cook and package fresh protein-based foods and complete meals.
After the store on South Meridian Street shuts its doors next month, just one O’Malia’s grocery will remain.
The Cincinnati-based supermarket operator—the No. 1 grocery player in the Indianapolis area— said Friday it was hurt by falling prices of eggs, meats and other products, forcing it to lower its earnings guidance for the year.
Some banks have been closing their mini-branches in stores, but PNC Financial Services is applying the trend toward automated transactions to its new location in Carmel’s Market District Supermarket.
