Fort Worth suburb doesn’t want to lose grocery store where elderly, disabled shop
When councilwoman Gaye Vanzant got word that a Kroger store is closing at the end of March, she vowed to do all she can to make sure elderly and disabled residents have a grocery store.
Vanzant, who was elected last May, posted on her Facebook page that the Kroger at Broadway and Denton Highway is closing at the end of March.
“I am just shocked,” Vanzant said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. “I am stunned. We have people walking to that store with little shopping carts because they are disabled or too old to drive.”
April Martin, corporate affairs manager for the Kroger Dallas Division, said in an e-mail to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the Kroger on Denton Highway and Broadway opened in April of 1980.
Kroger decided not to renew the lease because the store has been under-performing for a sustained period.
“We have worked to improve the store with various upgrades, products and great talent. However, despite our best efforts, we were unable to improve profitability,” Martin said. “We have made the very difficult decision to close the store in March 2020. It is important to note, our team spends several weeks and months assessing all alternatives before closing a store.”
Vanzant said city manager Rex Phelps sent a note to council members stating that Kroger was closing the location in south Haltom City because there are four stores within six miles.
Phelps said in an email to the Star-Telegram that he was notified Tuesday morning that the Kroger store will close at the end of March.
“There is so much new development taking place in Haltom and while we are gaining so much - we still do not want to lose the Kroger,” he said.
Phelps added that “numerous citizens” called the city and said they were worried about losing a store.
“We truly empathize with those community members that will be most impacted by this closing. It is not always easy to travel longer distances for services,” Phelps said.
New residential development is taking shape in Haltom City including the High Pointe and Heritage Village neighborhoods along with the two luxury multifamily developments on both sides of the 820 corridor and the 72-acre business park Phelps said.
Meanwhile, Vanzant said she will do all she can to bring a new grocery store to south Haltom City.
She is concerned that people on limited incomes are left out in terms of having to go longer distances to buy fresh produce or to get to a pharmacy.
“Yes, I know we are lower income, but isn’t my money as green as yours?” she said.
The 74 employees are being transferred to other stores, and customers’ prescriptions will be sent to other Kroger stores.
Martin added that there are other Kroger stores near that location:
708 E Pipeline Rd, Hurst, 76053.
7201 Boulevard 26, North Richland Hills, 76180.
5241 North Tarrant Pkwy, Fort Worth, 76244.
12600 North Beach Street, Fort Worth, 76244.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 10:08 AM.