Schnucks to Close Two Rockford Stores

Schnuck Markets, Inc. announced today it will close its stores at 2514 S. Alpine Road and 1715 Rural St. at 5 p.m. May 31.

According to a press release from the company, all 139 employees at the stores will be offered positions at neighboring Schnucks stores prior to the closings. The Alpine location currently employees 84 workers while the Rural store has a staff of 55.

The company cites low sales and the costly operation of the two "older, smaller" facilities as key factors for the closings.

Also announced today was the closing of in-store restaurants and the restructuring of related areas at the Schnucks stores at 6410 E. State St. in Rockford and 1810 Harlem Road in Loves Park. The moves will mean the elimination of 15 full- and part-time positions at the East State Street location and nine full- and part-time positions in Loves Park.

“In order to stay competitive and offer the value our customers want and need, we are discontinuing services currently underutilized by the majority of our customers," Schnucks President and CEO Todd Schnuck said in the press release. "Eliminating positions is always a last resort, but these are directly related to the closed functions and could not be absorbed.”

The stores' pizzerias will remain open with plans to feature expanded menus.

The St. Louis-based Schnucks operates eight other stores in the Rockford area. The company operates 101 stores and 95 in-store pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.