Lucky's Market released a statement Tuesday saying the parent company of Winn Dixie, Southeastern Grocers (Website), is in an agreement to buy the Lucky's Market locations in Lake Mary, Melbourne, Gainesville, Naples, and Fort Myers and that Seabra Foods (Website) will be buying the Hunters Creek location.
The Melbourne location of Lucky's was one of only 7 with plans to be spared, kept open, and sold back to the founders of the company, Bo and Trish Sharon. The other 6 will remain open and the Melbourne store will now close.
A statement from Southeastern Grocers that went out Wednesday said “These stores would be Winn-Dixie locations.” Along with Winn Dixie, Southeastern Grocers also owns BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket grocery store brands.
Seabra Markets has 14 locations in 4 states and is a "highly international-flavored supermarket, offering items not frequently seen in conventional supermarkets," according to Produce Business. Orlando has a location at 5571 International Drive (MAP).
Aldi (Website) is acquiring two Lucky's Market locations in Orlando: 3230 E Colonial Drive (MAP) across from Fashion Square Mall and 11601 Regency Village Drive (MAP). Lucky's is selling a total of five leased stores and one owned location to Aldi. The rest are in Coral Springs, Oakland Park, Sarasota and Venice.
Publix is purchasing the lease of the Lucky's Market in SODO at 3171 S Orange Avenue (MAP). It is unknown if a Publix or its other brand, Greenwise Market, will fill the space. It's also buying leases for stores in Clermont, Ormond Beach, Naples, and Neptune Beach.
The two remaining Orlando area locations awaiting new buyer announcements are 11750 E. Colonial Drive (MAP) and 7580 University Blvd (MAP) in Winter Park.
The Lucky's Market leases became available because Kroger divested themselves of their investment in December 2019, causing the company to close 32 of its 39 stores across the US and eventually declaring bankruptcy. Lucky’s Market said in its Chapter 11 filing it had $100 to 500 million in assets along and $500 million to $1 billion in liabilities "owed to thousands of creditors."
Kroger is building a $125 million online and delivery customer fulfillment center in the city of Groveland which is expected to be completed by 2021.
The first Orlando Lucky's Market location started construction in 2015 in the Waterford Lakes area and held its grand opening in 2016. In 2017, the chain announced the locations of four other Orlando area stores. The newest location just opened June of 2019 across from Fashion Square Mall.
Another organic specialty grocery store chain, Earth Fare (Website), announced Monday that it will be shutting down all of its stores. Challenges in the retail industry impeded the company's progress of its recently implemented growth and expansion plans as well as its ability to refinance its debt. Orlando has the following Earth Fare locations:
SODO - 9 W. Gore St, Orlando, FL 32801
Lake Nona - 13024 Narcoossee Rd. Orlando, FL 32832
Viera - 5410 Murrell Rd, Ste 135, Rockledge, FL 32955
Earth Fare will engage in a process to find potential buyers of its stores and pursue a sale of assets in whole or parts.
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