New grocery options in neighboring Fair Bluff may help some shoppers, but residents still face the loss of a longtime local supermarket.
CHADBOURN, NC — Residents of Chadbourn are preparing to lose a longtime grocery shopping destination after Fresh Foods IGA announced that its Chadbourn store will be closing this month. In a message posted on social media, the company thanked customers for their support over the years and announced a storewide liquidation sale. No reason for the closure or final day of operation was provided.
The Chadbourn location has operated as part of the regional Fresh Foods IGA grocery chain since 2016, when the company acquired the former Piggly Wiggly store in town.
For many residents, the closure represents more than the loss of a grocery store. Local supermarkets often serve as gathering places where neighbors see familiar faces and shop close to home without traveling to surrounding communities.
The timing of the announcement comes as nearby Fair Bluff has welcomed a new grocery store, providing another shopping option for residents throughout southern Columbus County. While that may ease some concerns for shoppers willing and able to travel, many Chadbourn residents will still feel the loss of having one less grocery store located within their own community.
Questions remain about what led to the closure. The company has not publicly stated why the store is shutting down, however about 20 employees are affected and the question whether those workers will be offered transfers to other locations, or what plans exist for the property after it closes.
Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that the Chadbourn closure may not be an isolated event. Recent reports indicate that the chain’s Castle Hayne location is also preparing to close and has conducted a similar liquidation sale. At the same time, the company continues to operate numerous stores across southeastern North Carolina.
For local residents, the focus now shifts from bargain-hunting during the liquidation sale to larger questions about the future.
The Chadbourn Community will be watching to see whether another grocery retailer expresses interest in the location and what impact the closure may have on the town’s economy and convenience for shoppers.
Until additional information is released, locals are left with appreciation for a familiar business that served the community for years and uncertainty about what comes next.
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