Feature Stories
Grocery Stores Closing Due to Thefts, Competition
From Issue: Volume XX - Number 19
9/21/2012
By Kirt Ramirez
The Ralphs supermarket at 3210 East Anaheim St. will close its doors Sept. 21 and will be converted into its sister-store Food 4 Less.
The closure is an isolated occurrence affecting only that one historically-busy Fourth District store. Kroger Co. media relations would not comment on the topic.
However, a veteran Ralphs employee – who was not allowed to speak about the situation – said employees will be transferred elsewhere and that no layoffs are expected.
Asked why the shutdown, the employee said theft is very high at that Redondo Ave. and Anaheim St. location and as a result, Kroger Co. – which owns Food 4 Less and Ralphs – decided to change the store into a Food 4 Less because such stores typically are designed with better in-house security systems.
Moreover, Food 4 Less is somewhat like a warehouse with bulkier items and cheaper prices than Ralphs.
An in-store manager guessed that renovation probably will take two to three months. The manager was previously overheard telling a security guard that the liquor section “is where it all happens” and to stand guard at that area.
One Long Beach Albertsons at 7th St. and Redondo Ave. also will shut down. But that closure is part of dozens nationwide including 19 throughout Southern California and is not an isolated incident. Albertsons is owned by SuperValu Inc.
Some recent news reports also blame competition from big box stores – like Costco and Sam’s Club – for the closure of traditional supermarkets.
kirt@longbeachcomber.com
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