The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

Murray County

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  • A shopper leaves the Chatsworth Food Lion, which will close in February. Other Food Lions that will be shuttered in the region include those in Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville and Trenton. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen

    Food lion closing 2 mlh.jpg

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January 13, 2012

Customers lament Chatsworth Food Lion closing

By Jamie Jones and Mark Millican The Daily Citizen

The news Thursday that Food Lion will close its Chatsworth grocery store along with 113 total underperforming locations didn’t sit well with customers.

And not just because they enjoy shopping there.

“It’s not good losing those jobs,” Lindsay Hatton said in the parking lot of the store off G.I. Maddox Parkway. “A lot of high schoolers work there part time and now they won’t be able to do that. I’ve been trying to find a job for months and can’t find one.”

North Georgia has faced consistently high unemployment due to the floorcovering industry slowdown. Murray County’s preliminary unemployment rate in November 2011 is 12.3 percent, the same rate as in November 2010.

Food Lion locations in Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville and Trenton will also be shut down. All stores will close within 30 days. In all, 4,900 workers will lose their jobs. The company will provide severance to eligible associates, and will work with government officials to assist with transition support. Workers are also encouraged to apply for open positions within the company.

After the cuts, Food Lion will operate 1,127 stores in 10 states.

Officials with Delhaize America, which operates Food Lion and several other grocery store brands, said the closings were occurring “primarily in markets in which the company has the least store density.” The company is undergoing a larger restructuring

“Today’s actions will continue to solidify our U.S. operations and enable our company to focus on our successful brand strategy repositioning at Food Lion and the expansion of Bottom Dollar Food in new markets,” said Ron Hodge, CEO of Delhaize America. “While these were difficult decisions given the impact on our associates, customers and communities, we believe these actions will enable us to better serve our customers in our markets with high density, while positioning the company for future growth.”

Still, area residents lamented the loss of another business.

Brooke Simmons said it’s “horrible” that the Food Lion in Chatsworth is closing.

“More people losing their jobs,” she said when informed of the closure. “The people are always nice there, and they sold good Christmas trees.”

Simmons added, “It’s hard enough to find a job already in Chatsworth and Dalton — it’s just horrible.”

Emily Johnson called the closing “sad — it breaks my heart.”

“The people are so friendly, it feels like a family over there,” Johnson said.

Raquel Kelley said she was “upset” by the news.

“I remember coming here as a kid with my mom,” Kelley said. “We’ve always shopped here. It’s the kind of thing you didn’t think would be taken out of the community. They always greeted you like they knew you, and after awhile they do know you.”

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