ST. LOUIS — St. Louis-based grocery chain Schnuck Markets, Inc. announced Monday it intends to acquire two Fricks Market locations in Franklin County, Missouri.
According to a release from Schnucks, the Fricks Market locations at 401 Central Ave. in Union and 45 North Clark St. in Sullivan will close 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 and reopen 7 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 as Schnucks-operated stores.
“We’re thrilled to be able to continue our mission to nourish people’s lives in both Union and Sullivan," Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said.
The 66 employees who work at the Union and Sullivan Fricks locations will be extended employment offers with Schnucks, and both stores will continue to be union. Todd Schnuck told 5 On Your Side, "employees will get a slight pay bump and more security going forward."
“We know Schnucks will continue to serve Union and Sullivan customers with access to high quality, nutritional foods as we have done since 1960,” Fricks Market President Jennifer Newbanks said in a statement. “As our family moves on to the next chapter, we are grateful for the employees who have worked with us as well as the customers who have shopped with us over the years."
While the Union store will transform into a traditional Schnucks grocery store, the Sullivan store will remain a Fricks operated by Schnucks until a new 23,000-square-foot Schnucks Fresh store is completed on East Springfield Road near Highway 185.
The opening date for the Schnucks Fresh store will be announced in the coming months, according to Schnuck Market.
"We’re confident Schnucks – another family-owned grocery company with strong core values – is the right fit to continue supporting families in our communities," Newbanks said.
The Union and Sullivan stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Newbanks says the only change customers will see is the store signs and some product labels, "They'll no longer find the Best Choice and the Always Save labels, but other than that, I doubt much will change really."
For the family-owned business of more than 60 years, Newbanks said the sale comes with a mix of emotions, "It's bittersweet, it's going to be a real good thing for everyone involved, but the end of an era is always tough to see."
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.