Kroger has started closing 60 stores across the United States, following a failed merger with Albertsons. The closures, announced in June, are expected to take place over 18 months and will result in the layoff of 1,000 employees.
In Texas, Kroger confirmed it is closing locations in Houston and Spring, both scheduled to shut on April 10. At least three other Houston-area stores have already closed since the announcement.
The company stated that the closures target underperforming locations and will provide a modest financial benefit. Kroger plans to open new stores in 2026 at an accelerated rate, expanding its 2025 new-store build rate by 30%.
According to a partial list compiled by MassLive, closures include at least one store in California, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Colorado will lose at least two stores, Indiana three, Illinois four, and Virginia and Wisconsin five each.
The closures come about six months after the proposed $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons was blocked by court injunctions in December. A Seattle judge ruled the merger would lessen competition and violate consumer-protection laws.
