Both Kingwood Randalls grocery stores will close Feb. 15 according to Christy Lara, director of public relations and communications for the Albertsons Companies, which own Randalls.
The stores are located at 4540 Kingwood Drive and at 600 Kingwood Drive.
Employees of the Kingwood stores were notified early Friday, Jan. 10.
“Unfortunately our company announced today that both Kingwood locations would be closing by late February. In such a competitive environment, our company must sometimes make tough decisions to close underperforming stores so that we can reinvest in our remaining stores in the marketplace. We are working diligently to place as many employees as possible in other locations, and we remain committed to the Houston market area,” Lara said.
There are 73 employees at the 600 Kingwood Drive store and 76 employees at the 4540 Kingwood Drive store.
Residents were shocked and filled social media with hundreds of comments, mostly lamenting the news.
One resident posted, “I feel for the employees who are losing their jobs, hate to see another large empty building, and am sad that I lose my quick stop at the store on the way home from work.”
Others mentioned all the support the stores have given Kingwood events and youth sports or mentioned favorite departments like the bakery.
City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin also is disappointed.
“It is very disappointing to hear of the closure of our two Randalls Grocery Stores as they have been iconic landmarks in Kingwood and the growth of our community. I have fond memories of taking my kids grocery shopping every Saturday, and having donuts and chocolate milk there.
“It brings a smile to my face when I think back on those days in the early 1990s and how Randalls became a weekend tradition for me and my three kids and gave Mom a few hours to relax and get caught up on things she needed to do around the house while I entertained the kids for a few hours. It saddens me to think of another retail store that will now join the ‘old’ HEB as vacant real estate in what I call downtown Kingwood. My hope is that another great tenant will see the opportunity to bring a vibrant business into our neighborhood and fill these great locations.”
