JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Jacksonville stores of a grocery chain that prides itself on filling customers’ shopping carts without emptying their wallets are preparing to close their doors.
As first reported by our news partner, The Jacksonville Daily Record, the Harveys Supermarkets in Arlington and in North Shore, north of Brentwood, will shut down as early as May.
That’s in addition to the previously announced conversion of two more Jacksonville Harveys to the Winn-Dixie banner.
According to City Councilmember Ken Amaro, who represents the Arlington area, the closure of the Harveys at 49 Arlington Road South will have a devastating local effect.
“It’s disappointing to be honest with you, because with the closure of that location, what they’ve essentially done, they’ve created a food desert,” Amaro said. “There’s no choices for the folks in the Woodland Acres, the folks around Century 21, the folks who patronized that store when it became a Winn-Dixie and when it became a Harveys.”
‘Wow. I did not know’
Right now, many of the people who shop at the Arlington Harvey’s are elderly, and there’s a large population of people who walk to the store.
“A lot of people try to walk up here to get what they need. So yeah, it is going to be really... wow. I did not know," said Tory Boyd.
Kathy Parker also found out Monday that the supermarket she’s been shopping at in Arlington since 2017 is planning to close its doors in May.
“We shop here all the time. It’s cheaper, closer,” Parker said, expressing her concern about the closure.
Her husband, David, said his mother’s house has been in the neighborhood for 60 years. He said they often patronize the Harveys because “Publix is too high.”
“We’ve been coming here,” David Parker said. “I don’t get it."
Meredith Hurley, Winn-Dixie senior director of communications and community, in an emailed statement to the Daily Record said the closures are “part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our business.”
The other store that’s closing is at 201 W. 48th St., which is west of North Main Street and east of North Pearl Street.
“We understand the impact this decision has on our associates and are committed to supporting them through this transition. Associates who wish to continue their careers with Winn-Dixie may apply for open positions at nearby stores, and eligible associates who do not transfer will receive severance,” Hurley said.
Converting to Winn-Dixie
Southeastern Grocers previously announced that seven total Harveys Supermarkets across Florida and southeast Georgia will be converted into Winn-Dixies.
“The conversions mark another step forward in the company’s evolution to The Winn-Dixie Company, reflecting a sharpened focus on growing the Winn-Dixie brand and delivering a more unified grocery experience for customers,” the release read.
The Harveys Supermarket locations set to be converted to Winn-Dixie include the following:
- Jacksonville, FL — 5909 University Blvd. W.
- Jacksonville, FL — 5250 Moncrief Road W.
- Lake City, FL — 4506 SW Heritage Oaks Circle
- Ocala, FL — 3435 N. Pine Ave.
- Lakeland, FL — 2630 US Highway 92
- Lakeland, FL — 1305 Ariana Street W.
- Folkston, GA — 3606 S. Second Street
No specific dates have been provided for the upcoming conversions, though the company noted it will release more updates as they continue.
The conversions are part of a plan by Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie to focus on its home state of Florida and the Northeast Florida region after selling its stores in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and much of Georgia.