The closings are part of cost cutting as the 75-year-old Detroit grocer struggles to make money. It now operates 106 stores. Farmer Jack announced last week it would close its two Lansing stores. In March 2003, the chain closed four Detroit area stores.
The latest closings include the 60,000-sf Highland Park superstore, which was built on the historic site of Henry Ford's first auto assembly plant. Farmer Jack also plans to close three stores in Detroit and single stores in Hamtramck, Wayne, Lincoln Park, Harper Woods, Melvindale, Sterling Heights, Brighton, Rochester Hills and Ypsilanti.
Some Farmer Jack stores could be repackaged next year as Food Basics, which would offer fewer items than a typical Farmer Jack at lower prices. Farmer Jack officials would not say how many might be converted to the new concept.
"Despite these difficult but necessary actions, Farmer Jack remains committed to serving the citizens of Detroit and minimizing job losses," Mike Carter, president of Farmer Jack, said in a statement Wednesday.
Dave Manney, communications director for the city of Detroit, said Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is working with the 106-store chain and its union to keep the three city locations open.
"There's been a lot of work done by the mayor to ensure first-class, healthy and affordable supermarkets stay in the city of Detroit," Manney said.
Ed Deeb, executive director of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association, said intense competition in the grocery business from players such as Kroger, Meijers, Costco, Wal-Mart and others have cut into Farmer Jacks' market share. Deeb said the general economic climate also impacted Farmer Jack.
In December, union workers at Farmer Jacks voted to accept a 5% wage cut in an effort to stave off even more closings.
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