PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Shoppers are mourning their favorite Stop & Shop locations after three in the region officially closed on Thursday.
Stop & Shop initiated the closures after announcing earlier this year that it would be shuttering 32 underperforming stores to strengthen the brand and ensure long-term stability.
The company has remodeled nearly 200 stores in the last five years, which have outperformed their older counterparts.
This week, the Johnston location, Eastside Marketplace in Providence, and one in Raynham opened and closed their doors for the last time.
MORE: Stop & Shop closing 32 underperforming stores
“I love coming here and now they closed it after so long — what, 30 years? Yeah. Breaks my heart … and my youngest daughter worked here for over 20 [years],” Johnston shopper Virginia Gladue said.
Shoppers like Karina Papineau said it will be strange without the grocery store.
“People I went to middle school with. I would always come and see familiar faces. So I don’t know, it’s kind of sad,” Papineau said. “I know it’s just a grocery store, but it’s just super weird and unexpected.”