Long Island City Grocery Store To Shutter Later: Spokesperson

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Neighbors in Long Island City will soon have one fewer place to shop for groceries.

The Stop & Shop on 48th Street near Northern Boulevard will close "later in the year," a spokesperson for the chain confirmed with Patch.

News of the imminent closure comes a couple of weeks after Stop & Shop axed less popular late night hours at the same Long Island City location (and a majority of its stores), but the spokesperson said that the decision to permanently shutter is unrelated, instead citing performance goals.

"After a detailed review of the operating performance of our stores, we have made the difficult decision to not renew our lease," the spokesperson said, noting that all store employees will have the chance to work at "other area" locations.

Since the decision to close the Long Island City grocery store is still "early in the process" a specific closing date hasn't been decided, according to the spokesperson.

The Long Island City closure will bring the number of Stop & Shops in Queens down to ten; last year the chain operated a dozen stores in the borough, but it closed its Little Neck location in October.

After the 48th Street grocery store closes, the closest Stop & Shop for northwest Queens residents will be in Elmhurst.

Related Article: LIC Grocery Store Axes Late Night Hours