On Tuesday, the specialty grocer The Fresh Market announced it will be closing 13 stores across the US, including all four locations in Houston. Employees at the stores off Memorial Drive, San Felipe, Bay Area Boulevard (Webster) and West Holcombe have been offered the option to apply for a position at another location as the company hopes to bolster its remaining stores, reports the Houston Chronicle.
Houston retail is a battleground. Major grocery chains are butting heads all across the city, driving development. The Fresh Market was not only up against superstore giants like HEB and Kroger, but also other specialty store heavy-hitters like Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Sprouts. In the end, Houston's super-competitive market didn't fit into the company's national strategy. [Chron]
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