This is a developing story.
UPDATED 2:49PM TUESDAY JANUARY 21, 2020
All Orlando area locations of Lucky's Market, the beer-while-you-shop, Trader-Joes-Meets-Whole-Foods lovechild, will close as of February 12th according to Store Director Jason Rief who spoke with the Sun Sentinel.
These locations include the following:
11750 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32817
3230 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
3171 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806
7580 University Boulevard, Winter Park, FL 32792
4169 West Town Center Boulevard, Hunters Creek, FL 32837
1718 East Highway 50, Clermont, FL 34711
It's not just Orlando that's getting the grocery gut-punch. All Florida locations except Melbourne are closing that day as well.
The regional distribution center which is also located in Orlando will also close.
The company has not yet released an official announcement since the Sun Sentinel article was first published.
The closures come after Kroger, which made a "meaningful investment" in Lucky's in 2016 enabling it to speed growth in new markets, announced in December of last year they were divesting their interest in Lucky's Market after a portfolio review. The company said its Q3 operating profit were affected negatively by a "noncash impairment charge of $238 million related to an investment in Lucky's Market," according to Progressive Grocer. Read more about those financial details HERE.
In December during an earnings conference call, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said “The amount of investment that it would take for Lucky's to be a meaningful contributor to Kroger overall, and the efforts that it would take, we just didn't think it created a good return for the investments that were needed to be made."
Kroger is building a $125 million customer fulfillment center in the city of Groveland which is expected to be completed by 2021 according to Daily Commercial. It's meant to fulfill online ordering and delivery needs.
The first Orlando location started construction in 2015 in the Wateford Lakes area. In 2017, the chain announced the locations of four other Orlando area stores. The newest location just opened June of last year across from Fashion Square Mall.
Below are photos from the 2016 opening day of the Lucky's Market at 11750 E. Colonial Drive.
