JayC store in Mitchell to close; customers lament loss of full-service grocer

On Friday morning, Kroger officials told the 70 current JayC employees that the company would close the grocery store at 6 p.m. March 31. The building at 1240 W. Main St., which was constructed in 1999, will then be converted to a modern Ruler store to replace the Ruler located across the street. Ruler is a discount grocer that focuses on Kroger brand products and offers fewer amenities.

“It’s a sad day for Mitchell,” said Mayor JD England. “I shop there, my family shops there, we all shop there. When I received the call this morning, I was deeply concerned for the employees who, even though they will be offered jobs elsewhere, are accustomed to working in this store, which has been a long-standing tradition in Mitchell.”

The announcement came as a shock to many.

Toya Lamm, a resident of Mitchell who learned of the announcement when she stopped in the grocery store Friday afternoon, said she visits the store at least twice a day and considers its employees friends.

“The employees were visibly upset,” Lamm said as she was leaving the store. “... It’s a sad announcement for Mitchell. I have committed to doing 99 percent of my shopping in Mitchell because it’s home, so we use Dollar General, CVS and JayC for almost everything we need. I am truly bummed about this. I know the store isn’t perfect, but I really don’t want to drive to Bedford for stuff I can get right here in Mitchell.”

Among Lamm’s concern is the possible loss of the full-service deli and floral shop that were both a part of the Mitchell store.

“Ruler just isn’t the same,” she said.

Shopper Randy Young, whose family opts to eat organically, said he does most of his grocery shopping at Lost River Market & Deli in Paoli, but the JayC store, which added a full line of organic products last year, helped fill in the gaps as needed.

“It’s close and convenient,” he said.

Tim McGurk, regional director of corporate affairs for Kroger, said the Mitchell JayC store has lost more than $1 million during the past five years.

“Financial projections show that the store would suffer even greater losses in future years if left open,” McGurk said in email correspondence to the Times-Mail.

“Despite this news, our company remains committed to the Mitchell community,” McGurk said.

Once the store closes later this month, work will immediately begin to convert it to the Ruler format. The extensive remodeling project will cost $600,000. The new Ruler store is expected to open in the fall and will be the “most modern Ruler store we have in the chain,” McGurk said.

Employees, McGurk said, are being offered other positions at other Ruler, JayC and Kroger locations throughout the area. The new Marketplace stores in Jeffersonville and New Albany, for example, have full-time opportunities available, he said.

“Things are beginning to happen for Mitchell, and I see the community on an uphill climb,” England said. “We have people inquire daily about investing in Mitchell, so to hear this news, we’re disappointed, but glad to know Kroger will continue to invest in the Mitchell community.”