Authored By Chloé Morrison

The last day of operation for Food City's Brainerd Road location is slated for early next month, and city officials and some area residents are concerned about the void the closure will leave. City officials and Food City's CEO said they are working to find another grocery store that could serve the area. The property owner said he thinks Food City has been disingenuous about the reasons for closing, but the company's CEO said the landlord was difficult to work with and didn't keep the building in good shape. The store's last day of operation is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sept. 4, according to a Food City news release. Until then, the store, which is located at 4011 Brainerd Road, will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Food desert fears, working on a replacement District 9 Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod said she's heard from constituents from multiple districts who are concerned about the closure. Coonrod's district includes some portions of the Brainerd area and is near the store's location. Many don't understand it, because the store is believed to be profitable, she said. It's also a prime location for a grocery and is on a public transportation route, she said. "Food deserts, safety, and affordable grocery prices are among the concerns," she said via email. "Many do not feel safe [shopping] at Walmart on Brainerd [Road] or Shallowford due to the notorious behaviors displayed at the Walmart locations." But Food City CEO Steve Smith indicated the store wasn't as successful as many may think and said the profit margins are thin in his business. "Businesses typically don't close profitable stores," he said. The store is in District 5, represented by Councilman Russell Gilbert, who couldn't be reached for comment. However, Coonrod said Gilbert is aware of the situation and is working "diligently" to recruit another grocery chain to the location. Chattanooga Deputy Economic Development Administrator Charita Allen is also actively working to recruit another grocery to that location, city spokeswoman Richel Albright said via email. And Smith said he has real estate representatives working with city officials, and there's a scheduled meeting next month to look for other properties in the Brainerd area. "We like the Brainerd area," he said. "It has a lot of population and needs to be served. We know we weren't severing it well in the old facility." Why not renew the lease? Area resident Daniel Bockert said he's concerned about the closure. When he initially heard about it, he couldn't believe it, he said via email. It seemed like an abrupt decision to him. "This is a store that has been around forever," he said. "And there are no other grocery stores in the neighborhood anymore. And this is a store that has really tried to serve the community, tailoring its products and services to its clientele, employing a lot of really good people, particularly young people from the neighborhood."

He spoke to people in the area and came away with the feeling that the property owner didn't want to repair the roof. Smith confirmed that. He said Food City leaders have been asking the landlord John W. Lombard to replace the roof for three years. 'The lease is coming up to expire, and we have to look at the financials of the store and the store condition," Smith said. When Food City officials decided to close the store, Lombard was more amenable about the roof, but by that time the business decision had been made, Smith said. Lombard, who is based out-of-state, said Food City "never negotiated for one minute," to renew the lease. "These people bought all the Bi-Los with a preconceived notion of how they were going to close stores in [certain] areas," he said. He said he'd like to see another grocery there because that would best serve the community. In a news release about the closure, Food City officials said the decision was a difficult one. They said the store's lease is expiring and they "were unable to secure a suitable replacement location," but they will continue to look for opportunities to serve that area. "For some time, we looked for a replacement store in the vicinity but were not able to find a suitable replacement," Smith said in a prepared statement. "We are offering all of our associates positions at Food City locations in the surrounding area."