11 once-popular grocery stores that closed their doors forever

Áine Cain

Apr 20, 2019, 19:55 IST

11 once-popular grocery stores that closed their doors forever

Mel Evans/AP Images

How many of these brands do you recognize?

The grocery business can be brutal.

Dozens of regional and national supermarket chains have gone under over the decades.
Some suffered during the retail apocalypse, while others were done in by mismanagement or acquisitions.
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It's hard to successfully sell groceries.

Margins in the business are notoriously low. You've also got to contend with ever-shifting customer preferences and stiff competition from other supermarkets, powerful e-commerce outfits like Amazon, and big-box giants like Walmart and Costco.

And you can't forget the retail apocalypse that's been dragging down much of the industry.

That's why it's not surprising to see that a large number of once-successful grocery chains ultimately crashed and burned. In some cases, the companies ran up against unfortunate circumstances beyond their control. In other situations, the grocers proved too slow to adapt to shifting trends or ramped-up competition.

Here's a list of grocery store chains that are no longer with us:

The A&P was founded in 1859 in New York City, but after 100 years in business the once-powerful grocer began a slow decline. A&P filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015, and all stores ceased operations that same year.

Waldbaum's was a New York supermarket chain that managed to venture into neighboring states like New Jersey and Connecticut during its 115-year history. A&P bought the business from the Waldbaum family in 1986. Waldbaum's met its fate alongside its parent company in 2015.

Grand Union stores once dotted the northeastern United States. But in 2001, the grocer filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. C&S Wholesale Grocers bought the company, then sold it off to Tops Friendly Markets in 2012. The following year, the new owner discontinued the Grand Union brand.

Grand Union stores once dotted the northeastern United States. But in 2001, the grocer filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. C&S Wholesale Grocers bought the company, then sold it off to Tops Friendly Markets in 2012. The following year, the new owner discontinued the Grand Union brand.

Source: The Hartford Courant, Supermarket News, Times Union

The Alpha Beta chain of supermarkets was named after its habit of alphabetizing groceries. Founded in 1915, the business was passed among a number of parent companies throughout the decades. By 1995, the brand had died out entirely.

The Alpha Beta chain of supermarkets was named after its habit of alphabetizing groceries. Founded in 1915, the business was passed among a number of parent companies throughout the decades. By 1995, the brand had died out entirely.

Source: Los Angeles Times, MeTV

The Genuardi family ran their namesake chain of grocery stores for much of the brand's history. Founded in 1920, the company opened supermarkets throughout the northeastern US. Then, in 2000, Safeway acquired the business. Genuardi's underwent a decline in the following years, and all its stores shuttered by 2015.

The Genuardi family ran their namesake chain of grocery stores for much of the brand's history. Founded in 1920, the company opened supermarkets throughout the northeastern US. Then, in 2000, Safeway acquired the business. Genuardi's underwent a decline in the following years, and all its stores shuttered by 2015.

Source: Philly magazine, Philadelphia Business Journal

Headquartered in Queens, the Bohack chain of grocery stores first launched in 1887. The company operated locations throughout the New York City area for decades, but closed for good in 1977.

Founded in 1893, Eagle Food Centers once boasted locations across the Midwest. But fierce competition would ultimately doom the grocer, which filed for bankruptcy in 2000. By 2003, all its stores had closed.

Buttrey Food & Drug first came on the scene as a Montana department store — it was called Buttrey Department Store at the time — but pivoted to grocery sales in the 1930s. After Albertsons acquired the company in 1998, the brand was phased out.

Buttrey Food & Drug first came on the scene as a Montana department store — it was called Buttrey Department Store at the time — but pivoted to grocery sales in the 1930s. After Albertsons acquired the company in 1998, the brand was phased out.