An east-side Galesburg chain grocery store will soon close, leaving the future of the property in doubt.
Jerry Keller, a spokesman for Niemann Foods — the parent company for Save A Lot — tells WGIL the Save A Lot at 900 E. Main St. in Galesburg will close “sometime in June.” Keller said Niemann was unable to reach a lease agreement with the property owner.
“We do not own that property, and we could just not come to terms with the landlord,” Keller said.
Keller said the 10 employees at the Galesburg Save A Lot were notified earlier this week the store would be closing. He noted all of the employees been offered jobs at other stores in their group, if they choose to relocate.
Keller said he was unsure what future plans the property owner has for the building.
A sign on the door at Save A Lot said effective Thursday, new store hours would be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to Knox County property transfers, 900 E. Main St. changed hands in November 2022, with Sun Garden Place, LLC-Main Street selling the property to Guru Nanak Property Iowa, LLC for $560,000.
Jesse Singh, who is associated with Guru Nanak Property Iowa, LLC, owns a Save More grocery store in the Quad Cities. On May 22, 2019, a new Save More opened in the former Save A Lot location in Rock Island.
When reached by phone Thursday morning, Singh indicated to WGIL the Galesburg property would remain a grocery store, however he said more details would be forthcoming. Singh said Save More stores include both grocery items and liquor items.
Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman declined comment on the store closing pending more information, but added “every grocery store that closes is a negative outcome for our city.”
Ken Springer, president of Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, said his organization has not had a role in the project.
