University Hy-Vee in Waterloo to Close on March 31
February 26, 2018 | News & Press Releases
Waterloo, Iowa (Feb. 26, 2018) — Hy-Vee, Inc. officials announced today that the University Hy-Vee, located at 4000 University Avenue in Waterloo, will close on March 31, 2018, and its employees will be relocated across the company’s other area stores. The convenience store at the location will remain open.
The University Hy-Vee grocery store will permanently close at 10 p.m. on March 31. The store’s 282 full- and part-time employees will have the opportunity to transition to positions at other Hy-Vee stores in the area.
Hy-Vee opened the store at 4000 University Avenue in 1977. Hy-Vee is closing the location because it has not met sales expectations for many years and the space no longer reflects the current brand standard and amenities Hy-Vee strives to offer customers. Due to the store’s sales performance history, Hy-Vee will not be investing further in the location.
“The University Hy-Vee has served as a neighborhood store for many nearby residents for a number of years, and we understand it will be missed by its customers,” said Darren Baty, executive vice president of Hy-Vee’s northern region. “It’s always difficult when we make store adjustments, but we must keep pace with customers’ shopping behaviors and meet their needs through excellent customer service and more modern amenities.”
“Hy-Vee remains committed to the Waterloo community,” said Baty. “We have continued to invest and improve our other area stores through remodeling projects that include the addition of coffee shops, food courts and in-store restaurants.”
Employees at the University Hy-Vee were notified this morning of its permanent closure. Customers will be notified verbally and by signage posted throughout the store. Pharmacy customers will receive a letter informing them that their prescriptions will be transferred to the Ansborough Hy-Vee, located at 2834 Ansborough Avenue in Waterloo, or another Hy-Vee pharmacy of their choosing.
Hy-Vee owns and will maintain the property as it continues operations of the convenience store.
“We want to thank the community and all of the customers who choose Hy-Vee, and invite them to shop at one of our four other Hy-Vee locations in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls area,” Baty said.
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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 245 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s 85,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.