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Kingsport, Johnson City Super Kmart stores phasing out grocery sales, reducing hours of operation
KINGSPORT — Super Kmart in Kingsport and Johnson City will phase out their grocery operations later this year and convert to Big K stores instead.
Kim Freely, company spokeswoman at corporate headquarters in Illinois, said the transition will occur in mid November, affecting a number of jobs at both stores.
“We won’t be able to determine the number of impacted employees until the conversions are completed,” Freely said.
She said the stores will also reduce operating hours from 24 hours a day to “normal Kmart hours” beginning Oct. 4.
Kmart, which is owned by Sears Holdings Corp., has been converting various Super K stores to Big K operations across the country in recent months. Last spring, the company phased out groceries from its store in Rome, Ga., and reportedly eliminated 80 jobs there, according to the Rome News-Tribune.
On Monday, Freely said the changes make sense in the current retailing environment.
“To be successful in today’s economy, and to remain focused on operating expenses, we decided to eliminate the grocery section,” Freely said. “It made sense in these markets to give them the best opportunity to succeed.”
She said the pharmacy operations will not be impacted.
As for the space that will be vacated, Freely said the stores will be reformatted “to utilize the space better.”
She said both stores will continue to stock a limited number of pantry items.
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DON'T THINK WAL~MART HAS TO WORRY ABOUT PUSHING THEM OUT
Not sure about Kingsport, but Food City and Walmart are hardly the only options. Kroger, Food Lion, White's IGA (if you can find a clean one). And then there's Earth Fare here in JC.
But anyway, agreed that K-Mart has evidently had some very bad management over the past 10-12 years. Their brands and advertising are just... OLD. And that's the only people that shop there. An aging target demographic is never good.
Food City now has a tighter hold on the area. What are the choices now? Walmart and Food City?
One reason they chould not have low prices on groceries was they had to buy them from outside wholesaler. They did not have there own warehouse for grocery.Like foodcity and walmart does.
If you look at the cooler section it was all low.
They did not even take wic.
That a big money maker for gorcery stores.
I hate that for the empoyees that work there.
I don't know about the one in Kingsport, but I have no idea how K-Mart in JC keeps the doors open. The parking lot is usually empty when I pass by.
I agree it being hot. I guess they are trying to conserve on cooling costs??? Kind of funny.