Albertsons closes more stores at chain it saved from bankruptcy

Another grocery chain is shrinking its footprint, leaving some communities without a familiar place to shop for their weekly groceries.

For consumers who rely on a nearby supermarket, the loss of a location can mean longer drives, fewer convenient options, or the need to find a new store.

Now, a regional chain is closing two more locations, affecting more than 100 employees as its parent company continues to reassess its store portfolio.

Founded in 1936, Kings Food Markets is a regional grocery store chain with approximately 18 locations across Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. The brand has been owned by Acme Markets, a subsidiary of Albertsons Companies, since 2020.

Kings Food Markets is closing more stores

Kings Food Markets is closing two stores in New Jersey by Jan. 2, 2027, according to a notice filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

The closures are the result of expiring leases that Acme Markets chose not to renew as it focuses resources on other stores, News12 reported. The company said it regularly evaluates its store locations and real estate portfolio to ensure it is positioned to serve customers and operate efficiently.

A total of 122 employees will be affected by the shutdowns. The company said it will try to transfer impacted workers to other nearby Kings Food Markets locations or provide severance when applicable.

The closures will leave Kings Food Markets with 14 remaining stores in New Jersey, according to its store locator .

Why Kings Food Markets continues closing stores

The latest closures come after Kings Food Markets filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020 and was later acquired by Acme Markets for $96.4 million.

Since the change in ownership, several Kings Food Markets locations have closed, including stores in Chatham, Maplewood, Long Hill, Hoboken, Bernardsville, Warren, and Ridgewood, NJBIZ reported.

The continued closures have further reduced Kings Food Markets' presence across New Jersey.

At the time of the acquisition, there were 27 Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lover's Market locations, according to the company announcement .

The closures also follow the collapse of a proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger (KR) and Albertsons (ACI) that was blocked in 2024. The failed deal put pressure on both companies to reassess their store portfolios, including by closing underperforming locations and reallocating resources to higher-performing stores and digital operations.