GROCERY shoppers were left devastated after a regional supermarket chain shut down a long-standing location, leaving just eight remaining spots in the US.
The Carrs grocery store, founded in the 1950s, was a prime destination for the residents in the Anchorage area.
GettyA beloved grocery store founded in the 1950s will soon see its last day[/caption] GettyThe Carrs grocery store near downtown Anchorage is on the chopping block[/caption]Carrs-Safeway, a subsidiary of Albertsons, is a supermarket chain based in Anchorage, Alaska, known for its grocery stores, pharmacies, and other services.
Just a handful of Carrs locations exist in the state, and one of them is about to get the axe.
The oldest Carrs grocery store, established near downtown Anchorage roughly 70 years ago, will close for good in the coming weeks, a Carrs-Safeway official confirmed to Anchorage Daily News.
Located at 1340 Gambell Street, the store and pharmacy’s closure will leave a big gap in the Fairview neighborhood amongst efforts by community advocates to revitalize the area, president of the Fairview Community Council James Thornton told the outlet.
The impending shutter has also sparked concerns regarding how locals will be able to access a grocery store and pharmacy, as Thornton shared that many in the area are low-income and do not own vehicles, instead walking.
“It’s devastating,” he said. “The neighborhood needs this primary source of food, especially those that don’t have vehicles. It’s their only way to get food and medicine in a lot of cases.”
“It’s a very sad day,” agreed Richard Watts Jr., who began working at the store in 1964 as a grocery clerk and later managed the store.
Among all the Carrs stores in Anchorage, Watts shared that the Gambell store was unique because it was such a core part of the lives of the people in the Fairview neighborhood.
“The Carrs-Safeway on Gambell is the heartbeat of Fairview, so it’s almost like cutting the heart out of the community,” Watts said. “I just hope another store opens there after it closes.”
The beloved store and pharmacy will shut down by May 10, Carrs-Safeway spokesperson Sara Osborne told Anchorage Daily News.
Prescriptions will be transferred to the Carrs pharmacy in the Midtown Mall at 2920 Seward Highway, according to the spokesperson.
“Carrs-Safeway has been proudly serving Anchorage for decades, and the decision to close this store isn’t one we made lightly,” said Osborne.
“With our focus on growth, we continuously evaluate the performance of our stores, and occasionally it’s necessary to close locations that are not growing and are perpetually unable to meet financial expectations.”
Once the landmark store near downtown Anchorage shuts its doors, the Carrs-Safeway supermarket chain will have eight remaining stores in Anchorage.
SHOPPER SHOCK
Shoppers were left shocked and disappointed by the news of the closure.
Many said that, despite the location sometimes drawing in unsavory loiterers right outside, they would drive to the store from other areas of Anchorage because they loved shopping there.
They praised the Carrs store for always being well-stocked, partly because it seems to draw in less customers than the other locations.
Loyal shoppers also commended the Gambell store’s workers, noting that they often knew customers by name.
“I just heard and it’s like, ‘What? Oh no!‘” said shopper Christina Anowlic of the closure. “It’s kind of sad.”
She grew up shopping at the store in the 1980s with her parents, Anowlic said.
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