Martin Foods closes its door after two-year fight
February 15, 1996
A Carbondale grocery store is no longer making a profit and will close its doors next week, a company official says.
Martin Foods, 1702 W. Main St., is closing its store Feb. 23, Pete Bradham, president of Illinois Super Foods, said.
Bradham said the store has not been making a profit, neither as Martin Foods nor as Country Fair, for the last few years.
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Bradham said Country Fair became Martin Foods two years ago when Country Fair was no longer profitable. He said Illinois Super Foods owns both chains.
The change was a last-ditch effort to save the store, he said.
Bradham said the company is helping transfer the 75 employees to four other stores in Mt. Vernon, Bethalto and Murphysboro. He said these stores are profitable.
Bradham said the announcement of the Schnucks super-center grocery store possibly coming to Carbondale had no effect on the closing of the Carbondale store.
Bradham said there are three years left on the building’s lease, and the company will search for a new tenant to sublease the building.
James S. Prowell, executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber will assist the company in any way to find a new tenant.
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