Glen Burnie losing another grocery store

Weis Markets was scheduled to close its Glen Burnie store yesterday, only two weeks after Mars grocery stores closed one of its two Glen Burnie locations.

A sign on the window at the store at 7319 N. Ritchie Highway referred shoppers to the next closest Weis, 7 miles down the road at 8115 Ritchie Highway in Pasadena. That store, and the Weis in Odenton, will remain open.

A spokesman from the Sunbury, Pa.-based supermarket chain could not be reached for comment. Weis Markets, the company that owns Weis, King's and Mr. Z's, operates 157 stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia. It is uncertain if other stores are closing.

"In this environment, you can't afford to keep any under-performing stores open," said Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association.

He said that although grocery stores have somewhat benefited from the economic climate because people are eating out less, stiff competition and a rise in food prices are hurting the grocery industry.

"A lot of people are moving from shopping at traditional supermarkets and moving to lower-priced warehouses," he said.

Kathy Ross, who was shopping at the Glen Burnie Weis last week, said she will reluctantly start shopping at the Wal-Mart Supercenter when Weis closes. The Linthicum resident said she has been shopping at the Weis store for about 10 years. The Wal-Mart Supercenter opened this year at Quarterfield Road and Interstate 97.

"I like the service here," she said. "The cashiers are very friendly. (At Wal-Mart) you don't get the one-on-one treatment. You're lucky if the cashier looks at you."

Mr. Saquella said consumers may not prioritize loyalty to one grocer over other economic concerns.

"That loyalty is being eroded because of pricing and gasoline prices. People are looking to economize," he said.

Glen Burnie resident Robin Contrastan said she has shopped at Weis for the past five years. She said she'll now shop at Food Lion, the next closest grocery store to her home.

"I'm sorry to see them leave," she said.

She shopped at Weis for the specials and the competitive prices, Ms. Contrastan said.

Mr. Saquella also attributed the Weis closing to name recognition. The company is big in Pennsylvania, but is not as well known in this area, he said.

He said he thinks more warehouse clubs may come to the area. Smaller chain grocery stores may see more store closings if the fourth quarter of this year - which includes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's - doesn't go well, he said.

"You could see a lot of stores possibly closing, especially if the economy doesn't turn around," he said.

The Mars store on Chesapeake Center Drive in Glen Burnie closed Sept. 21. The chain's stores in Pasadena and Arbutus are still open.