Butler’s longtime local grocery store chain is closing all remaining stores.
Friedman’s Freshmarkets will close their three remaining stores in Butler Township, Saxonburg, and Chicora on Saturday, January 27th at 6 p.m. Store closing sales will begin tomorrow (1/20).
After their previous wholesale supplier declared bankruptcy in September of 2014, Friedman’s contracted with Merchants Distributors Incorporated. According to Friedman’s President and CEO Carole Bitter, that was a “bad decision” resulting in damaging behavior including disruption, increased cost, and poor performance. Friedman’s has filed a lawsuit against MDI although they remain under a legal contract.
Bitter also says the company will “work very hard to get all associates placed” in a new company if the stores are sold. The local grocer closed their West Brady Street store in downtown Butler last October. Friedman’s first opened 117 years ago.
Written by Ryan Saeler
