Kroger closes Southeast Side grocery store, may repurpose site

Kroger has closed a Southeast Side store and gas station at 4485 Refugee Road.

The Cincinnati-based grocery chain closed the location on Friday, May 20.

In a statement, Kroger said the Refugee Road store's performance continued to decline despite its efforts.

"Kroger has been transparent with community leaders regarding the store’s status and appreciates their support as we worked unsuccessfully to increase sales and customer traffic," said the company. "The decision to close this store was difficult, but the store has continued to lose revenue."

A Kroger store on Cleveland Avenue in Linden closed in 2018 for similar reasons.

The company said Refugee Roadstore associates would be considered for reassignment to other Kroger locations.

The company also noted its Columbus division is in negotiations with hunger relief organization Mid-Ohio Food Collective to repurpose the site. With Kroger, the food bank plans to provide food and resources for the community at the site.

More:The Mid-Ohio Food Collective has opened a new food market on Norton Road on Columbus' Far West Side

The nearest Kroger locations are at 3588 Gender Road in Canal Winchester and 850 S. Hamilton Road in Whitehall. The area also has Giant Eagle and Aldi locations nearby as well as several international grocery stores.

The Refugee Road location opened at least 45 years ago, based on a 1977 article in The Dispatch which reported the store was the first in Franklin County to debut an electronic check-out system, noting the new technology was "much cussed and discussed by consumer advocates and politicians."

The location also briefly housed one of the company's Little Clinic health care centers.

The company operates nearly 2,700 stores in 35 states, under various supermarket banners. As of January 2022, the company has over 200 locations in Ohio.

tmoorman@dispatch.com

@TaijuanNichole