The supermarket landscape at the Beaches is changing with word that Native Sun will be reopening its former Jacksonville Beach location, while Lucky’s Market is giving up on its Neptune Beach store.
"Unfortunately, our Neptune Beach store will be closing and starting tomorrow, we will be offering significant discounts on all products in the store," Lucky's Market announced on Facebook Tuesday.
The Oakleaf store is also closing, with the same message posted on its Facebook page.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel quotes Lucky’s regional store director Jason Rief as saying all Florida Lucky’s stores will be closing, with the exception of the one in Melbourne.
The natural and organic supermarket chain’s decision to pull out of most of Florida follows Kroger's announcement last year that it was divesting its stake in Lucky’s Market.
“Kroger has decided to divest its interest in Lucky's Market and recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $238 million in the third quarter, and the portion of this charge attributable to Kroger is $131 million,” Kroger said in its third quarter earnings report.
Meanwhile, local grocer Native Sun has decided to take another run at the highly competatively segment after closing its three stores last year.
“Today was a good Monday. We weren’t sure that we’d ever put food back on these shelves. Yup. Today was a good day,” Native Sun Natural Food Market announced on its Facebook page, showing restocked shelves.
Native Sun plans to reopen its Jacksonville Beach location at 1585 3rd Street North in early February. Four jobs were listed at last check on Indeed.com at what is being branded as Native Sun Kitchen & Market, with pay ranging from $11 to $14 per hour. Native Sun said earlier this month it was looking to hire "about 30 rock stars."
Native Sun dipped its feet back in the grocery wars in November with a temporary pop-up operation at its Jacksonville location.
The supermarket scene at the Beaches has seen increased competion during the past several years.
One of Lucky’s Markets signature concepts, “sip-n-shop,” soon spread. The nearby Winn-Dixie at 1209 Atlantic Blvd. launched its WD Taproom concept a year ago.
A new Whole Foods market is also under construction at Pablo Plaza in Jacksonville Beach.
- WJCT's Heather Schatz contributed to this report
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
