New grocer will take over Lucky's Market store in St. Pete
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 4, 2020

A new grocer will enter the Tampa Bay region by taking over the Lucky's Market store in St. Petersburg.

Hitchcock's Markets, which has 11 locations between North Central Florida, South Georgia and South Florida, has reached a deal with Lucky's Market for its St. Petersburg location at Tyrone Square Mall, Lucky's said Tuesday.

Lucky's, a bankrupt organic grocer based in Colorado, is closing the majority of its stores across the U.S. and 20 of 21 locations in Florida. Hitchcock's, which was founded in 1945, has historically focused on rural areas and small towns, with an emphasis on customer service. Its closest location to the Tampa area is set to open soon in Homosassa.

The St. Pete store is one of seven for which Lucky's has reached a deal. Lucky's previously announced deals with German discount grocer Aldi and Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. for 11 of its Florida stores.

Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers, which confirmed its interest in Lucky's last week, will take the stores in Naples, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Lake Mary and Melbourne.

The fate of the Melbourne store — originally the only one to remain in Florida — has changed several times. Lucky's filed a layoff notice with the state for that store, then said that the company founders would acquire and run the location.

Ethnic grocer Seabra Foods said it will take a store in Hunters Creek, which is in the Orlando area.