Lexington, SC (Paul Kirby) - Southeastern Grocers announced last week that they are closing their Bi-Lo stores on Columbia Avenue in Lexington and at Emanuel Church and Old Barnwell Roads in the Pine Grove area. Southeastern also owns the Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s brands. Some of those will also close in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. There are still Bi-Lo stores in Lexington County in the town of Chapin, two in the city of Cayce, one on Augusta Road in West Columbia, one on Hwy 378 west of Lexington, and one in the Irmo area.
Southeastern Grocers, based in Jacksonville, FL, came out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. Part of their restructuring plan called for closing a number of stores they described as under-performing.
The company said that the stores will close near the end of March although the exact date hasn’t been set. On the Facebook page of the Lexington store, management said, “We are so very heartbroken and sorry to tell you our Lexington store will be closing. Last day will be the end of March, not sure of exact date. Please pray for our employees as they navigate thru this difficult time.”
The Emanuel Church Road store received pressure for customers and sales after Wal-Mart built one of their smaller Neighborhood Markets diagonally across the street from the store. There is also a Food Lion within a few miles of that store’s location at Platt Springs and Emanuel Church Road in Three Fountains.
