WARSAW — The Market Street Owens in Warsaw has officially set a closing date for March 30. Kroger announced the consolidation and closing of the location on Feb. 27, citing “ongoing poor financial performance.”

Many people are concerned for residents on the west side of Warsaw, especially seniors living at Retired Tigers. Since Marsh closed in 2017, there will no longer be a grocery store within walking distance on that side of town. A petition with over 1,200 signatures has been circulating in hopes of keeping the location open, but with an official closing date, that option no longer seems feasible.

“We understand the desire to keep the store open and we share the community’s admiration for the excellent team there, but phone calls won’t change the decision. The store has been losing money and nothing indicates that will change,” said Eric Halvorson, media spokesman for Kroger. 

“I would also like to address the people who question the store’s profitability issues,” continued Halvorson. “Look at the number of social media comments from people who say they go to the store to buy a few things and ‘it was always busy when I was there.’ A lot of people in a store is not evidence of a profitable store when transactions are small.” 

The Market Street location has new store hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until the closing date. A sign at the location advised that the store will not be honoring weekly circulars.

In a news release, Kroger invited residents to shop at the Owens on Center Street, noting that more than $4 million was recently invested at that store to provide a new look and larger selection to serve all Kosciusko County shoppers.

The release further advised that employees at the Market Street location will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Kroger stores in the area.