After more than 80 years in business, Hitchcock’s Markets is shutting down all 10 of its stores in North Central Florida.
Managers and employees of Hitchcock’s Markets told Main Street Daily News in October 2025 that the chain’s stores were being sold off following the death of its owner, Carlos Alvarez, in 2024. Aside from the Alvarez family’s desire to downsize the company, vendors such as Coca-Cola stopped delivering to the chain due to unpaid bills, Main Street added. Hitchcock’s Market website was not functioning as of October 27, 2025. However, its Facebook page thanked customers for their loyal support as it announced a storewide 75% discount on all items remaining at its Alachua and Keystone Heights stores.
Founded in 1945, Hitchcock’s Markets was initially focused on serving Alachua, a community that borders the college town of Gainesville. But that changed in 1979 when founder Bob Hitchcock passed the reins over to his son Alan, who then proceeded to open additional stores in nearby towns. Prior to being sold to Haug Enterprises in 2008, Hitchcock’s had 12 locations, collected $150 million a year in revenue, and 850 employees, per Main Street Daily News. Haug then sold the chain to Carlos Alvarez in 2019.
Hitchcock’s quality dipped, but customers will still miss it
While the store was under the Hitchcock family’s ownership, selling premier food items was a top priority. That was especially true for its meat, since Bob Hitchcock was a butcher. “[We had] the most outstanding meat departments, a deli that served fried chicken second to none, and a bakery that had fresh, hot donuts every morning, accompanied by fresh produce supplied by many local farmers,” Alan told Main Street Daily News…