The first-ever Schnucks Fresh store is getting ready to shut off the lights in Jasper, Indiana. Schnuck Markets says the smaller-format location will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, bringing an end to the concept’s original test site that has been operating since 2021. About 29 teammates work at the store, and company officials say they are expected to be offered transfers or severance.
In a May 1 news release, the company confirmed that the store at 3605 North Newton Street will permanently close on May 24, explaining that “the store simply has not generated the business it needs to stay open,” according to Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck. The grocer said all 29 Jasper teammates will have the option to transfer to other Schnucks locations or receive a severance package. Full details are laid out by Schnucks.
Background on the Fresh concept
The Jasper location was the prototype for the Fresh concept. Schnucks opened the store in August 2021 after converting a former Cash Saver space into an 18,000-square-foot market that welcomed customers on Aug. 18, 2021, according to 14 News.
The Fresh banner was pitched as a smaller, fresh-focused alternative to a full-size supermarket, intended for communities that could not support a conventional store, according to Grocery Dive. Jasper was the first real-world test of that strategy.
Employees and customers
Schnucks says teammates who choose to transfer will be placed in comparable roles whenever possible. The company also said it will work to place transfer employees in Evansville-area stores and will offer severance to those who do not move to another location. More on staffing plans is available through Schnucks.
For shoppers, the grocer said customers can continue to earn and redeem Schnucks Rewards points at the Jasper Fresh store through the closing date, so regulars still have a little time to use up any lingering loyalty perks.
What this means for Schnucks’ experiments
The Jasper store was the launchpad for the Fresh idea, and the company had previously signaled plans to roll out additional locations under the banner. At the same time, Schnucks has been reassessing how far it is willing to go with experimental formats.
Grocery Dive reported in 2024 that Schnucks abandoned the Eatwell Market concept and converted or closed those locations after what the company described as “significant analysis and evaluation.” The Fresh closure in Jasper lands in that broader context, underscoring how tricky it can be for grocers to test new formats in competitive, tight markets.
The closure was first reported by the St. Louis Business Journal. We will update this story if Schnucks or local officials provide additional information.
