Hy-Vee will close its Mainstreet store at 2345 N. 48th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, next month, citing too many of its own stores in a small geographical area.
After Hy-Vee Mainstreet closes Feb. 1, its 76 full- and part-time employees will transition to positions at the other Hy-Vee stores in Lincoln. The two nearest stores—the Northern Lights Hy-Vee at 1601 N. 84th Street and the O Street Hy-Vee at 5010 O Street—are located within three miles of the closing store.
A Hy-Vee store first opened at the North 48th Street location in May 1983. As Hy-Vee has expanded in Lincoln and opened new stores nearby over the years, the future of the original eastside store has come into question, according to the Iowa-based grocer. In November 2008, the store was downsized and renamed Hy-Vee Heartland Pantry. The store’s name was changed in August 2011 to Hy-Vee Mainstreet.
“We know that this store has served as an important neighborhood store for many nearby residents, and we have appreciated the community’s support throughout the years,” said Brett Bremser, SVP of Hy-Vee’s western region. “Unfortunately, resident support and our employees’ hard work have not overcome the business challenges that exist when having two other stores in such close proximity.”
Though the nearest two stores are located only a few miles away, Bremser says he understands the closing will be an adjustment for some customers, especially those who walk to the store.
“I know our Mainstreet employees want to maintain the connections they’ve made with residents, and we are hopeful that our loyal customers will follow them and their helpful smiles to one of our nearby Hy-Vee stores,” he said.
In the near future, Bremser says Hy-Vee’s new online shopping and delivery service will be able to better serve Lincoln customers who have difficulty traveling to a physical store. The online shopping and delivery model currently is being tested at select Hy-Vee stores in the company’s eight-state trade area.
