Albertsons' Manatee stores prepare to close

The Albertsons grocery store at Lockwood Ridge Road and University Parkway is preparing to close its doors and has begun liquidating its inventory.

Albertsons LLC announced in April it would close 13 of 17 “largely unprofitable” stores in Florida within about 60 days, including the one at 8415 Lockwood Ridge Road, and another at 7415 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. The stores are slated to close on or around June 9.

“It depends on how quickly the inventory depletes,” Albertsons spokesperson Christine Wilcox said, adding store liquidations began May 9.

The company also is closing a distribution center in Plant City. Of about 1,100 statewide being lost, about 80 are in Manatee County.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].