Last updated on June 14th, 2024 at 09:15 am
Strack & Van Til will close five stores, including its longtime store in Merrillville, Indiana, reports nwi.com.
In addition to the Merrillville store at 7201 Taft Street, the Highland, Indiana-based supermarket chain will shutter four Illinois stores, including a Strack & Van Til and an Ultra Foods in Chicago on April 30. A company spokesman told the news outlet that the difficult decision to close the stores was made because the units are not profitable and their leases will expire.
An estimated 460 workers will lose their jobs at the stores in Merrillville, Chicago, Downers Grove and Lombard, according to the news outlet. The company is trying to place as many of the displaced employees as possible in other stores.
The chain reportedly will continue to operate 32 stores in Indiana and Illinois under the Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods and Town & Country brand names.
As nwi.com reports, “The chain is closing roughly a third of its stores in Illinois, where company officials have said the grocery market is much more competitive. Strack & Van Til has a stronger brand in Northwest Indiana, where it’s operated since 1959 and where it’s widely thought of as the hometown grocer.”
Strack and Van Til’s is my last choice for grocery shopping in NW Indiana. Prices are high and uneven from store to store. Plus as an added bonus, the store staff has a “could care less” attitude. If there were full service Kroger’s in the area, Van Til’s would be wiped out.
Stracks has relied on their name for the past few years and has not stepped up to the plate against the competition. they are slowly picking them apart A paradigm has come in the grocery market and stracks is resting on their laurels. If they don’t do something fast they will eventusally be a NWI casualty. PS They cheapened their paper bags, one of their selling points!