Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Grocery store's pending closure prompts search for options

HURLEY — News of the pending closure of the Super One grocery store in Hurley has prompted economic development officials to begin working on other options.

According to Kelly Klein, of the Iron County Development Zone, “it’s very early in the process” of looking into other potential businesses for the building, located on Holiday Lane in Hurley.

“There is an effort between my office and the owners of the building to reach out to other grocers,” Klein said.

Super One owner Miners Inc. announced the closing of the store earlier this month, and employees, state and local governmental officials were notified. Workers will be laid off in early March.

The Hurley store is formerly a Copps Food Center, owned by Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., of Milwaukee. In late 2008, Roundy’s announced its intention to close the store the following January.

Miners acquired the store in 2009 and has operated it as Super One Foods for almost five years.

According to a press release, the company said it “really appreciates the support its grocery store received from the Hurley community, but unfortunately the store never reached the potential Miners envisioned when it acquired this location from Roundy’s several years ago.”

Miners also operates Super One Foods stores in Ironwood and Ashland, Wis., and 35 stores in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin under a variety of titles.

Employees displaced from the Hurley store will be offered employment positions at other store locations, where possible.

Employees who are laid off will be provided with job placement assistance, as well.

According to store manager Lawrence Glatczak, 38 people are employed at the Hurley store.

Klein said efforts to attract another business to the location are not limited to just grocery stores.

“My feeling, as far as Hurley as a community is concerned, is we all would love to see a grocery store stay there,” Klein said. “It’s kind of a sad day when a community loses a grocery store. It’s an anchor that makes up the community.”

For more information, call the Iron County Development Corporation at 715-561-2922.

 
 
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