CHIPPEWA FALLS — The Family Fare grocery store at 17158 Highway J, Lake Wissota, will permanently close in March, SpartanNash announced this week.

The company, which operates the store, notified the Department of Workforce Development of the closure in a letter, indicating that 45 employees will lose their jobs.

“Affected employees are expected to have their employment terminated starting March 16, 2025, with separations continuing through March 27, 2025,” the letter stated.

The store’s workforce includes 43 hourly employees and two salaried staff members. None of the employees are represented by a union, and there are no bumping rights for those impacted.

“This announcement and timeline are based on the best information available at this time. However, various factors could impact these plans and the timing of employee separations. Any updates or changes will be communicated as they arise,” the letter added.

The closure comes amid recent competition from a new Festival Foods store, which opened in October 2023 at 1109 Chippewa Crossing Boulevard on the east side of Chippewa Falls. The Festival Foods location is approximately an eight-minute drive from the soon-to-close Family Fare store, according to Google Maps.

Family Fare was previously one of 26 Gordy’s Market locations, many of which either closed or were sold between 2017 and 2019.

In March 2019, Nash Finch, the parent company of SpartanNash, acquired five of the remaining Gordy’s stores at auction for $15.1 million, rebranding them as Family Fare Supermarkets.

The Family Fare store in downtown Chippewa Falls remains open.