Looking forward to Harris Teeter grocery stores popping up around Florida? Unless you live in the northeast corner of the state, you won’t be able to find any.
Grocer Kroger Co., which owns the Harris Teeter chain, has dropped plans to build up to 80 stores across the Sunshine State, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The only one to move forward is a new location under construction in Jacksonville.
Harris Teeter, a North Carolina-based grocery chain, previously operated locations in Mandarin and Ponte Vedra Beach that closed before Kroger acquired the chain in 2014. The only currently open store in Florida is in Fernandina Beach.
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Although the company did not comment on other potential sites or plans, Harris Teeter confirmed in a statement that the new Atlantic North store is still on track to open in Jacksonville in early 2027.
“We remain committed to serving customers in Florida,” the company said.
Harris Teeter operates more than 250 stores in seven states and the District of Columbia. Similar to Publix, it’s known for a wide variety of items, prepared foods, meat and seafood counters, an extensive wine selection, and local produce.
Why isn’t Kroger opening Harris Teeter stores in Florida?
Citing unnamed real estate sources, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that plans to open 80 Harris Teeter stores in Florida had been scrapped. The massive planned expansion would have included at least five 65,000-square-foot, high-end stores, the business site said.
In February, Kroger shut down a fulfillment center in Groveland, Florida, laying off more than 1,400 people associated with it and its hubs in Jacksonville, Rockledge, and Tampa.
Two other fulfillment centers also closed in Maryland and Wisconsin.
Other grocery store chains expanding in Florida
Meanwhile, other grocery store chains are expanding quickly in Florida to serve the state’s growing population.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Kroger scraps plans for 80 Harris Teeter stores in Florida, except 1
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
