Future uncertain for Bi-Lo on Boundary Street
By Mike McCombs
Food Lion is coming to Port Royal.
The Salisbury, N.C.-based grocery chain announced Wednesday, June 3 that it was acquiring 62 BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket stores from Southeastern Grocers.
The BI-LO located at 860 Parris Island Gateway is included in the sale.
According to Food Lion, the stores will remain under their original banner until the transaction is complete, likely in the first half of 2021.
“We are so excited to add these new locations to our more than 630 stores across Georgia and the Carolinas,” Food Lion President Meg Ham said in a release. “We’ve been serving customers in these larger regions for almost 60 years. We’re thrilled to add these locations and serve even more towns and cities across these three states with fresh, quality products at affordable prices every day with the caring, friendly service customers expect from their local Food Lion.”
According to the release, Food Lion expects to hire more than 4,650 associates to serve customers at the 62 new stores.
What about the Boundary Street BI-LO?
While the BI-LO at 2127 Boundary Street wasn’t on the list of stores sold to Food Lion, it would be fair to expect change at the location in the near future.
Employees at the location have been told to apply for employment with Food Lion, an indication that the future of the store is, at the least, uncertain.
A Southeastern Grocers spokesperson said, “Southeastern Grocers will be exploring strategic options for these stores such as the Boundary Street location, however, they will remain open and ready to serve our customers and communities as those options are explored.”
