More grocery store changes are happening in our Fort Mill-Tega Cay area. The Lowes Foods store at the corner of Gold Hill Road and Hwy 160 will become a Harris Teeter Food store. Lowes Food employees claim they can stay with Lowes but would have to transfer to an operation Lowes Food Store, or they can apply with Harris Teeter and hopefully receive priority hiring status with Harris Tweeter.
In a June 1 2012 press release, Harris Teeter Supermarkets and Lowe’s Food Stores announced a purchase and sale (swap) agreement between the 2 food store chains. The agreement will result in Harris Teeter acquiring ten Lowes Foods store locations in the Charlotte Metro region (Mint Hill, NC, Fort Mill, SC., Weddington, NC., 3 stores in Charlotte, NC., Davidson, NC., Cornelius, NC., Huntersville, NC., and Wesley Chapel, NC.). Lowes Foods is acquiring six Harris Teeter store locations in western North Carolina.
You have to wonder if Publix Food Stores coming into the area next fall played a role in the swap deal? See our Publix post
The Harris Teeter stores that Lowes Foods will acquire include one in Asheville, N.C.; two in Gastonia, N.C.; one in Hickory, N.C.; one in Morganton, N.C.; and one in Shelby, N.C.
In addition to the six Harris Teeter stores, Harris Teeter has agreed to pay Lowes Foods $26.5 million. The transaction is expected to be completed at in July, 2012.
Harris Teeter plans to temporarily close the acquired stores for five to sixteen weeks for remodeling, stocking and training of employees. Three of the acquired stores are expected to be converted to a new innovative format featuring a worldwide variety of wine, beer, specialty foods and other selected merchandise. One of the acquired stores is expected to be subleased.
About Carmen Miller
Nice to know that many store will be opening in your area and this will give more opportunities for home owners. Good luck!
Obviously the prior posted didn’t read that this is a SWAP – not new stores. At any rate, I’m so disappointed that Lowes will be leaving Fort Mill/Charlotte. their prices were much better than Harris Teeter and they had better customer service. I’ll be shopping at publix once that store opens!