KROGER is shutting down two of its Kitchen 1883 restaurants after nearly a decade, just as upscale rival Wegmans sets its sights on the same city.
The closures mark a major shift for the grocery giant, which once hoped to turn its restaurant concept into a new way to attract customers.
The longtime grocery giant announced the closures in a social media post, stating that both locations will serve their last meals on Thursday.
The company offered no specific reason for the shutdowns but called it a “difficult decision” in a statement.
“We are incredibly grateful for the community’s support and loyalty throughout the years,” a Kroger spokesperson said.
Kroger will continue to operate its third Kitchen 1883 spot, located inside a downtown Cincinnati store next to its corporate headquarters.
Kitchen 1883 first opened in 2017 in Union, Kentucky, as Kroger’s entry into the full-service restaurant space.
The concept focused on American comfort food with a strong emphasis on hospitality and high-quality service.
The idea was to give customers a place to enjoy a sit-down meal that reflected Kroger’s broader efforts to elevate its brand and customer experience.
Following the success of the Union location, Kroger opened a second Kitchen 1883 in Anderson Township in 2018.
A third restaurant followed a year later in 2019, this time built inside a two-story urban-format Kroger store in downtown Cincinnati.
The downtown location, still in operation, is part of On the Rhine Eatery, a food hall that also features several other dining concepts.
Although the company is shutting two of the three Kitchen 1883 restaurants, Kroger says it will continue offering food from the brand through its catering services.
The chain expressed gratitude to loyal customers, saying the community support over the years had been deeply appreciated.
The closures come as Wegmans, a well-known upscale grocer based in Rochester, New York, makes moves of its own.
Wegmans is set to open a second location of its stylish sushi restaurant, Next Door, in New York City on April 30.
The first location of Next Door, also in Rochester, is already known for its modern take on Japanese cuisine.
Wegmans’ expansion into the restaurant scene highlights a growing trend among grocery chains to branch into dining experiences.
While Kroger appears to be scaling back from this space, Wegmans is doubling down on the strategy, potentially setting up a new rivalry in the upscale grocery and dining market.
It remains to be seen whether Kroger will make changes to the food hall or introduce new dining concepts in the future.
For now, the company is focused on its core offerings and catering services as it adjusts to shifting customer preferences and a competitive landscape.
GettyAlthough the company is shutting two of the three Kitchen 1883 restaurants, Kroger says it will continue offering food from the brand through its catering services[/caption] Read More Details
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