Harris Teeter announces closure of Cary store

CARY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Tough competition could be one of the reasons a Harris Teeter store in Cary is closing its doors.

The grocery store on High House Crossing Road in Cary is slated to shut down in mid-September.

The grocery store currently employs 57 workers.

Officials say employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other stores in the area. Harris Teeter has eight stores in Cary - one just over a mile away from the High House Cross location.

Harris Teeter announced its decision to close Wednesday, after notifying associates on Monday.

A rep for the grocer told ABC11 that "this is a strategic decision, and after careful consideration, Harris Teeter made the difficult decision to close the location."

There is a SunTrust branch inside this Harris Teeter. It will close as well. When asked what will happen to the employees who work there, SunTrust PR rep Hugh Suhr said: "They may post for other open positions at SunTrust. Those who are unable to find suitable positions will be offered competitive severance and outplacement services."

Amanda Kimball at Twisted Scizzors hair salon next door to the Harris Teeter is sad about the closure.

"It's very sad, I mean they've been in business forever and I've been a salon owner since 2008," Kimball said. "Our customers leave here and go shopping and it's very convenient for them. And us. We go through a lot of food. So we go in and out six times a day usually."

Cary is seeing a surge of grocery stores pop up.

Publix already has two stores in the area and is planning more.

Wegmans is planning on building two stores. With the purchase of Whole Foods by Amazon, it's unknown how many stores will be opened.

Chain store guide is noting that some of the area's top grocery stores are already seeing their shares erode with the growth in competition.

Walmart, Food Lion, and Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter, are three of the top four chains in Raleigh. In 2014-2016 each saw a decline in market share.

Weingarten Realty, the landlord for the High House Crossing shopping center told ABC11 they are "unsure" of who will take Harris Teeter's place. Asked whether it would be another grocery store, a rep said only "an announcement is expected soon."

The store will close on or around September 16.