A recession and a super competitive Stop & Shop nearby are among the reasons the Shaw’s Supermarket will be closing its doors July 25.
The Massachusetts-based chain announced last week it was closing its under-performing stores in Bristol and Shelton. Each store reportedly employs about 100 workers.
Shaw’s just couldn’t hack it on Bridgeport Avenue — and that was from the mouths of actual Shaw’s shoppers interviewed this week.
Alice Finn, a resident of Shelton, said although she occasionally shops at Shaw’s, it is not her favorite grocery store.
“I have been coming here so long but I do like ShopRite better,” said Finn. “ It doesn’t bother me that it is closing.”
What’s Next?
Finn said a pharmacist at Shaw’s told her the store will be replaced by ShopRite, another grocery store.
However, neither ShopRite nor Shelton officials could confirm that story Wednesday.
Shelton Shaw’s shopper Pam Healy, of Easton, said she hopes the grocery store is replaced with something other than a grocery store.
“I don’t think they need another grocery store with Stop & Shop across the street,” Healy said. “The competition is too great.”
She prefers an “upscale clothing store,” such as a Lord & Taylor’s to replace Shaw’s.
Other replacements on the wish list of Shelton shoppers include Stew Leonard’s, Big Y and Cosco.
Tough Competition
Big Y, ShopRite, AIG and Stop & Shop are big competition for Shaw’s, according to Mark Hamstra, editor of Supermarket News, the nation’s leading supermarket trade magazine.
“Shaw’s has undergone ownership changes and it doesn’t seem as focused in their message to consumers on what it stands for in the market like Stop & Shop,” Hamstra said.
“ShopRite is tough to beat on price and selection,” the editor said. “They (ShopRite) are very big on price while Big Y has a more local feel and a friendly ambiance. Shaw’s is stuck in the middle of a sharp message and service orient message.”
The first Shaw’s store opened in 1862. SuperValu, a publicly-traded company based in Minneapolis, has owned the chain since 2006.
The Shelton Shaw’s has its share of die hard shoppers.
George Bohdan of Bridgeport, trekked to the Shelton store after another Shaw’s in Bridgeport closed its doors.
“Shaw’s has good bargains,” Bohdan said. “They have a nice deli too. Also, I always get good service — service with a smile.”
