The Gray’s Foods grocery store on Auburn Street is expected to close later this year, the result of store owners and the building landlord disagreeing on future lease terms.
Store owner Jeff Gray confirmed today that the building landlord informed him about a month ago that he wouldn’t be renewing the store’s lease and instead signed a lease for a dollar-themed business to move into the building.
Gray’s has been a tenant at 3214 Auburn St. for 31 years.
“We would have done anything to stay there,” Gray said. “We wanted to continue doing business there. The neighborhood is great, and the employees there are wonderful. There’s no reason we want to leave.”
Gray researched other spaces where he could possibly move the store but said a full-scale move likely would be too expensive. He said Gray’s actually hadn’t had a lease for a long time at the Auburn Street store but had operated there in “good faith” for many years.
Gray acknowledged that 2011 has been a tough year for the grocery business but said the company is “resilient.” The company closed its Loves Park store earlier this year, but Gray said its two remaining stores 1630 N. Alpine Road in the Highcrest Centre and at 1210 Broadway are still doing really well.
Seriously, ANOTHER ‘dollar’ themed store? No wonder that area is a blight. Just another cheap-looking store to get robbed and have undesirables hang out in front of. Do people in the neighborhood need more dollar items or do they need groceries?
Too bad that the old Sunrise Market on North Main isn’t an acceptable option.
The property owner, in this situation- the Assessor lists Nerino Petro (Loves Park) as the owner- I’m not sure what he’s thinking…
Rockford’s West Side can’t afford to lose another regular grocery store. Sure- property owners have the right to kick out good, long standing tenants (community builders)… But how little does Mr. Petro care about Rockford?
Easy access to groceries (without needing to drive) is important as a basic component of our residential communities and important for healthy families and individuals.
Was there some problem with Gray’s? Is there a legitimate reason to kick this business out? Nerino is listed as a lawyer so I doubt he is doing anything blatantly against the law… But this really makes me wonder.
As far as Jeff Gray- I used to attend church with him, he’s always seemed like a reasonable guy and I really believe he (Jeff) wants to continue contributing at that location.
What’s the landlord’s motivation?
If I lived in Nerino’s neighborhood- I’d be on his doorstep today, with a plate of fresh cookies, requesting a little sit-down time…
The store will close end of November, with an auction for fixtures and equipment on December 1, 2011. See http://www.badgerauction.com for details.
Oh, is this true? I missed this news about Gray’s Foods grocery.