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Marsh Supermarkets could close all locations if no buyer is found

Posted at 9:41 AM, May 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-10 12:12:04-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- All Marsh Supermarket locations will close if the company does not find a buyer within the next 60 days.

There are Marsh locations all over Indiana, in cities such as Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie and Zionsville.

Marsh issued a WARN notice dated May 8 from Vice President of Legal Affairs Ben Habegger to Carmel Mayor James Brainard. Hagebber gave a list of 16 stores in danger of closing. Marsh officials say those are the ones they are required to notify the state about because they have 50 or more employees, but all 63 Marsh stores are in danger of being shuttered.

The company cites poor performance and increased competition as the reason for the closures.

A Marsh spokesperson said 2,788 part-time and full-time employees would be laid off. 

"We deeply regret and understand the uncertainty this action will cause our valued employees and the community," Habegger wrote.

PREVIOUS | Seven more Marsh stores to close in May, including three stores in Indianapolis

Nineteen Marsh stores have already closed in 2017.
 
 
Marsh is an Indiana staple. The company opened their first location in Muncie in 1931 and their headquarters is located in Indianapolis. 
 
The locations with more than 50 employees at risk of closure are:
  • 1825 Kinser Pike, Bloomington
  • 843 E. Main St., Brownsburg
  • 2140 E. 116th St., Carmel
  • 2904 S. State Road 135, Greenwood
  • 15151 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis
  • 1435 W. 86th St., Indianapolis
  • 227 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis
  • 6965 W. 38th St., Indianapolis
  • 2350 Broad Ripple, Indianapolis
  • 320 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis
  • 208 Southway Blvd. E., Kokomo
  • 1013 Forest Ave., Marion
  • 1500 W. McGalliard, Muncie
  • 715 S. Tillotson, Muncie
  • 10679 N. Michigan Road, Zionsville
  • 5 Boon Village, Zionsville

Two of the stores that could close are in downtown Indianapolis -- at 320 N. New Jersey St., and 227 W. Michigan St. The one on Michigan Street opened just two years ago on May 15, 2015. It was made to "anchor" a downtown development with an apartment complex and parking garage called The Axis.

MORE | Downtown Indy could be the next food desert

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is concerned about the impact the store closures could have on the city. He released the following statement:

"This afternoon, I reached out to (Marsh) corporate leadership to express my concern with the announcement that they may close a number of store locations in the area. Closing all of these stores at once would leave swaths of our city without a dependable source for high-quality food, and could affect hundreds of hardworking residents. Effective immediately, I have directed city leaders to aggressively engage with the company and use all tools at our disposal to prevent and mitigate the effects of these potential decisions.”

PREVIOUS | New Marsh To Anchor Downtown Development

This process is similar to what Indianapolis-based electronics and appliances store hhgregg went through this year. hhgregg couldn't find a buyer, so the company closed dozens of its locations in early April.

About 3,700 people lost their jobs.

PREVIOUS | Indianapolis-based hhgregg files for bankruptcy | Indy-based hhgregg to close all stores after failing to find a buyer | hhgregg may close all 132 locations, liquidate items if company isn't purchased

Editor's note: In a previous version of this story, only 16 stores were mentioned as being at risk of closing, but RTV6 has learned all Marsh Supermarkets would be affected should the company not find a buyer.