Ormond Beach Lucky’s Market closing

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

After opening to a lot of fanfare on May 8, 2019, Lucky’s Market, 101 E. Granada Blvd., will be closing. The corporation is closing all stores in Florida except for one in Melbourne by Feb. 12, according to reports.

Employees at the Ormond Beach store were told the morning of Jan. 21 that they would be closing.

Kroger, the main investor, had divested its ownership in Lucky's in December and observers say this may have led to the closings.

The building had been empty for seven years before Lucky's opened last May. A Food Lion had previously occupied the building. There was a lot of excitement in the town when it was announced that a Lucky’s Market was coming.

City Economic Director Brian Rademacher said he was shocked when he saw the news reports. He said the bright side is that the Lucky’s corporation spent about $5 million on refurbishing the store, which could make it attractive for another grocer or business to move into the location.

He said his department will work with local and regional partners to find a suitable tenant for the building.

There were incentives paid by the city for hiring and also the capital investment. Rademacher said the city would be seeking reimbursement, since the store has closed. The incentives included $11,000 for job creation and $52,500 for Lucky's capital investment on construction and new equipment.

The store was projected to hire 130 to 140 employees when it opened. .

A statement from the city said Lucky’s Market considered the Ormond Beach store to be a successful location.