Lucky's Market Closing All But One Florida Store

SARASOTA, FL — Some 2,500 Florida employees of Colorado-based supermarket chain Lucky's Market were told Tuesday they will be losing their jobs on Feb. 12 when the chain shuts down 20 of its 21 stores in the Sunshine state, according to a store employee and news reports.

"It's closing down in three weeks," an employee from the store in Plantation, Florida told Patch. "[West] Melbourne is going to stay open but all of the other stores will be closing."

Employees got the news at a company meeting on Tuesday. "It's over," the Plantation employee added. "It's affecting all of us. We all found out this morning."

In addition to the stores that are closing, South Florida Sun Sentinel reported the chain also scrapped plans to open 14 new Florida stores, including its first Miami location as Lucky's is set to begin liquidation sales at its Florida locations that are closing with 25 percent markdowns on Wednesday. The markdowns will increase as the sale proceeds.

Lucky’s Market was started in 2003 by chefs Trish and Bo Sharon when they bought a convenience store in Boulder, Colorado, according to the company's website.

"The Sharons shared a vision of creating a grocery store where food lovers like themselves would want to shop, with quality products sold at affordable prices with genuine personal service.," the website said. "Today, those goals are the hallmarks of the Lucky’s style and Lucky’s Market now has 35 stores in 11 states."

The Denver Post reported that Kroger recently announced its intention to take a $131 million non-cash loss after pulling out of its investment in Lucky's.

Lucky's spokesperson Krista Torvik did not immediately respond to a Patch request for information.

The following locations in Florida are expected to close:

1. Panama City
2. Tallahassee
3. Coral Springs
4. Naples
5. North Naples
6. Oakland Park
7. Plantation
8. Sarasota
9. Gainesville
10. Neptune Beach
11. Clermont
12. Hunter's Creek
13. Ormond Beach
14. Orlando
15. St. Petersburg
16. Vineland
17. Winter Park
18. Jacksonville
19. Oakleaf
20. Colonial Landing