Western Supermarkets To Close In Birmingham Area

BIRMINGHAM, AL - For 70 years, Western Supermarkets were a staple in Birmingham communities. Slowly over the last several years, they have become more of a rarity. In 2019, they will no longer exist. An announcement by the company said its remaining locations will either be sold or closed outright.

“When I became involved in ownership in 1987, our goal was to maintain Western as Birmingham’s leading independent grocer. With the help of the loyal and talented people on the Western team, we’ve achieved that goal,” said owner Ken Hubbard, who has been a part of the Western Supermarkets family since he began as a bag boy in 1960. “We’ve taken Western as far as we can. It’s time to exit the business that has been my life’s work.”

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Publix Markets, which currently operates 10 stores in the area, will purchase two of the four stores: the Lane Parke store in Mountain Brook Village that will become a Greenwise location set to open this summer, and the Rocky Ridge store in Vestavia Hills, which will be torn down and rebuilt as a Publix.

The Highland Avenue store is located in a shopping center that is under redevelopment and will close in the coming weeks. The Village Market in the East Lake area of the city is for sale, according to the press release issued by Western.

“Many of our employees have worked at Western their entire careers. Treating them fairly, giving them plenty of notice, and helping them find employment is now our mission,” Hubbard said. “I am committed to that.”

An inventory liquidation sale will begin Jan. 9, with all wine priced at 20 percent off retail; the remaining inventory liquidation will begin Jan. 30.

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