Two grocery stores on the Grand Strand are shutting down in 2021. Here’s what we know
The Food Lion corporation announced on Wednesday it has begun a process that aims to purchase 62 BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket locations across George and the Carolinas, which includes stores in North Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island.
BI-LO, located at 3924 Highway 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach and 115 Willbrook Blvd. in Pawleys Island, will close around — or before — April 2021, according to a news release. Once the transaction between Food Lion and Southeaster Grocers is finalized, the stores will operate under the Food Lion banner.
Southeastern Grocers is the parent company to BI-LO, Harveys, Fresco and Winn-Dixie.
“We are so excited to add these new locations to our more than 630 stores across Georgia and the Carolinas,” Food Lion President Meg Ham said in the release. “We’re thrilled to add these locations and serve even more towns and cities across these three states with fresh, quality products at affordable prices every day with the caring, friendly service customers expect from their local Food Lion.”
According to the release, the stores will remain open as BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket until the transaction is complete, which is expected to take place over a staggered period from January to April of next year, pending regulatory approval and customary closing requirements.
Once bought, Food Lion expects to hire more than 4,650 associates across the new stores, the release states.
This is the latest decision in a series of changes made by both companies over the past few years.
Two BI-LO locations in Surfside and Myrtle Beach closed in 2018 and were replaced by Food Lion stores, and Southeastern Grocers closed another BI-LO in Murrells Inlet in 2017. Harveys in Conway originally was a BI-LO before it was converted in 2016.
Another BI-LO location on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach and a Harveys in Conway also closed last March.
