Natural Grocers closes Tucson store to enhance efficiency

In Lakewood, Colorado, Natural Grocers has announced the closure of its Tucson, Arizona location at Broadway Boulevard and Kolb Road, effective December 11, 2024. The company's decision is based on the pending expiration of the lease and operational challenges, including store performance and market saturation in the Tucson area. Store-wide closing sales will begin on December 3, with various discounts offered to customers, and all sales will be final. After this closure, the Tucson area will still have three Natural Grocers locations available for customers. Kemper Isely, Co-President of Natural Grocers, highlighted that the closure is part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiencies and improve overall performance across the Tucson market. The company regularly evaluates the status of its stores to ensure they meet operational goals and customer needs. This evaluation has reportedly indicated that the Broadway and Kolb location faced significant operational hurdles and capital improvement requirements that contributed to its reduction in performance. The closure is expected to impact both customers and employees. Natural Grocers is working closely with its good4u Crew members who will be affected, offering them potential transfer opportunities and transition packages that include severance and health benefits. The company has expressed gratitude for the loyalty of its customers over the years and is committed to serving the community through its remaining local stores after the closure of the identified location. This decision underscores Natural Grocers' focus on maintaining quality service in their remaining stores while ensuring sustainable business practices. The move will allow the company to reallocate resources more effectively and provide a better shopping experience through its other stores in the region.