LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Weingarten supermarket chain, which opened in central Arkansas in 1960, is pulling out of the state in the next 10 days.
The chain has sold its six remaining stores in the state, in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff, to independent grocers and will shut them down Nov. 8.
C.E. 'Doc' Toland, president of Affiliated Food Stores, Inc., confirmed the sale and said the six stores will be closed for some time to allow changes.
Toland said he was not certain whether all the stores would be associated with Affiliated Food Stores. Sale price was not disclosed. A spokesman for Toland said more information would be made available as legal requirements were completed.
Grand Union, a New Jersey-based chain that operates Weingarten, issued a statement Thursday saying the 'intense competitive situation' in the Little Rock area and a lack of available sites for expansion had made the stores unprofitible.
