By Jim Hagerty
Contributor

ROCKFORD –Schnucks will close two of its Rockford stores this July, the company announced Friday.

The St. Louis-based chain will permanently close markets at 2601 N. Mulford Road and 3150 N. Rockton Ave., at 6 p.m., Sunday, July 8.

The 97 employees at the Rockton Avenue store and the 75 on Mulford will be offered positions at the same rate of pay at other Rockford Schnucks locations. Pharmacy prescription records from the Mulford store will transfer to the Schnucks at 6410 E. State St., while those at Rockton will transfer to Walgreens, 3325 N. Main St.

“Despite our efforts, we simply saw no path to profitability for these two stores,” Schnucks Chief Operating Officer Dave Peacock said. “This was a difficult decision, but one that was necessary in order for us to continue to operate a strong company for our more than 13,000 teammates.”

Peacock said sales are declining at both locations and the facilities have become too costly to operate.

With six other area stores, Peacock added that Schnucks is committed to Rockford.

“Transferring our teammates to neighboring stores will mean a higher level of service for our customers, and a sharper focus on those stores by our company,” he said. “That will allow us to remain competitive in the Rockford market.”

Schnucks acquired the 65,000-square-foot Rockton location in a 1998 acquisition of Logli. The store originally opened in 1958. The 72,000-square-foot Mulford location was acquired in a 2011 Hilander acquisition and originally opened in 1982. R.