Buehler's Fresh Foods plans to close its Delaware grocery store within the next few months, ending the company's 46-year presence in the market.

Buehler's Fresh Foods plans to close its Delaware grocery store within the next few months, ending the company's 46-year presence in the market.

Sean Hughes, the city of Delaware's economic development director, said officials with the Wooster-based company told city officials Monday, Jan. 4, the store likely will close within eight weeks.

"The actual date of closing will be determined over the next few weeks after consulting with our store management, employees, vendors and other tenants," Buehler's President Dan Shanahan said in statement. "Most likely it will be mid-to-late February."

The release states items likely will be sold at a discount in the coming weeks as the store liquidates its inventory.

Hughes said company officials cited competition from other grocery stores in the city as the reason for the closure. The company's news release states the Delaware market is "heavily overstored."

Buehler's opened its current location off West Central Avenue on the city's west side in 1986.

Hughes said the grocery store employs 23 part-time, 30 full-time and 68 seasonal workers. He said the city and Delaware County Job and Family Services will work to help identify new opportunities for all workers affected by the closure.

The Ace Hardware and Delaware County Bank locations within the Buehler's building are expected to remain open after the grocery store closes. Hughes said the hardware store may expand within the existing building but not enough the fill the entire complex.