A Virginia grocery store that has served native communities for almost a quarter century said it is shutting its doorways after utility payments at the location averaged more than $25,000 a month.
Grants Supermarket said its Richlands store, which has served Richlands, Doran and surrounding communities for nearly 25 years, will close at the finish of business Saturday as its lease expires and rising working prices led the company not to renew it.
“Over the past two years, the utility bill for this location alone has averaged more than $25,000 per month,” the company said.
Grants Supermarket’s Richlands, Va., location is set to close after almost 25 years serving the space as rising working prices weigh on the business. Google Maps
“Like many families and businesses throughout our community, we have struggled with increasing utility expenses,” the assertion added.
The closure comes as utility costs have climbed quicker than total inflation across several main classes nationwide.
US family electrical energy costs were 44.7% larger in August than they were a decade earlier, while utility-piped natural gasoline surged 61.8% and the mixed value of water, sewer and trash assortment rose 50.3%.
Overall shopper costs rose 39.1% over the same period.
Electricity costs have risen significantly sharply since 2021, leaping 35.3% from August 2021 through August 2026 — a 10.5% increase even after adjusting for total inflation.
Grants said hovering utility bills helped make continued operations at its Richlands store untenable as the location’s lease neared expiration. WVVA
Natural gasoline rose 31.8% over the same five-year stretch, while water, sewer and trash prices elevated 27.3%.
Virginia’s statewide electrical energy knowledge show a more modest increase through 2024, though the figures predate important 2025 and 2026 price actions.
Electricity costs have risen significantly sharply since 2021, leaping 35.3% from August 2021 through August 2026 — a 10.5% increase even after adjusting for total inflation.
Natural gasoline rose 31.8% over the same five-year stretch, while water, sewer and trash prices elevated 27.3%.
Virginia’s statewide electrical energy knowledge show a more modest increase through 2024, though the figures predate important 2025 and 2026 price actions.
Virginia’s average retail electrical energy price rose 15.9% between 2020 and 2024, before more latest price actions took impact. WVVA
The state’s average retail electrical energy price across residential, industrial and industrial clients climbed to 10.62 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024 from 9.16 cents in 2020 — a 15.9% increase, according to Energy Information Administration knowledge.
Grants Supermarket did not blame any single utility or price increase in saying the closure, instead pointing to the cumulative burden of its working bills as its lease comes up for renewal.
“This is an incredibly difficult decision and one we did not make lightly,” the company said.
The grocer also thanked its present and former workers and the clients who supported the location for nearly 25 years.
“Closing a store after nearly a quarter century is never easy,” the company said. “We leave with tremendous gratitude for the relationships, friendships and memories that have been created here.”
The Post has sought remark from the store house owners.
