The grocery stores will close sometime in August, but a specific day is not available at this time, Marsh spokeswoman Connie Gardner said in an email.
“We believe it is prudent for all good companies to continually review and evaluate their assets, processes and business plans. In the world of retailing, competition moves in and out of our marketing areas, populations shift, retail centers grow and decline,” read a written statement provided by Gardner.
“We are genuinely grateful for the dedication and hard work of all the associates who have worked in these stores. As many employees as possible will be given the opportunity to transfer to another location or be granted a severance package,” the statement reads.
Less than 50 employees work at each individual store, Gardner said.
Marsh Supermarkets may not be required to file a notice with the state ahead of any pending layoffs under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
Under the WARN Act implemented in 1989, businesses with more than 100 employees have to send notices 60 days in advance of layoffs of 50 or more employees at a time in a 30-day period at a single site, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Officials with the state agency confirmed Friday they have not received a letter from the company about the closings.
Nor has Workforce One of Butler County received notice, the county government-run job center, said Stewart Leonard, manager of Workforce One.
“We’re usually the first ones to hear about the WARN notice,” Leonard said.
Hamilton economic development specialist Stacey Dietrich Dudas said to the best of her knowledge, Marsh Supermarkets had not contacted the city.
“We didn’t have any forewarning,” Dietrich Dudas said.
Fairfield officials “found out about the impending closing earlier this week,” said Greg Kathman, Fairfield economic development manager. “We will be meeting soon with the property owner to discuss future plans for the building. Other grocery options in Fairfield include Jungle Jim’s, Kroger, Meijer, and other smaller food marts.”
After the upcoming round of closings in Hamilton, Fairfield and Indiana, Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets will have a remaining 87 stores in the company’s chain, according to Gardner. That includes a remaining store in Hamilton, the Marsh Supermarket located at 1500 Plaza Drive.
Marsh also owns a supermarket in Middletown, at 621 N. University Blvd. It owns a Franklin MainStreet Market at 1056 E. Second St.
A Marsh Supermarket previously closed in Hamilton in 2010 at 1790 S. Erie Blvd./Ohio 4 in the Hamilton Crossings shopping center. That property is vacant.
The Hamilton MainStreet Market set to close next month is one of the retail anchors of the Town & Country Shopping Center along with Family Dollar and Auto Zone.
MainStreet Market is a division of Marsh Supermarkets.
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