× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

JESUP — The city’s only grocery store is planning to close next month.

The owners of Jesup Food Center are currently selling off inventory with plans to shut down operations around May 7.

“We’ve been trying to sell it for approximately two years but unfortunately couldn’t find a buyer,” said Gary Urban, who owns the store with Dolan and Kristi Burreson.

“It just wasn’t financially feasible to remain open in that location,” he said. “Obviously it was a heartfelt decision and we feel terribly about it.”

Urban said he remains optimistic someone will come forward to buy the store.

“The need is there for a grocery store in a community of more than 2,500 people,” he said. “We’d love to have somebody step in and say they want to run a grocery store in that community.”

Urban and the Burresons had purchased the former Schares Food Mart in Jesup in December 2009.

They also operate grocery stores in Fairbank, La Porte City, Fredericksburg and Edgewood and a hardware store. While those businesses remain open, Urban said they are also being marketed for sale.

“Dolan and I started in the grocery business back in 1979 and formed a partnership in 1999,” he said. “We’ve been at this as independent grocers — myself for 23 years and Dolan for 20 — and its time for a change.”

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 14 Angry 0

The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.