The Tribune

BY DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

AMID reports that the struggling five-store supermarket chain will close or agree to sell, hundreds of shoppers flocked to City Market locations for a cash only, all-you-can-carry sale.

Shelves were empty as early as 8 o'clock last night and shoppers reported deals that were up to 50 per cent off items.

Many were divided as to whether a closing or sale of the supermarket chain was good or bad, but all expressed compassion for workers who could possibly be negatively affected by a closing.

Most City Market employees refused to speak to the press, but one who insisted on remaining anonymous, said workers were alerted late Monday afternoon of the impending, massive sale.

"They didn't tell us what it meant, but it's not hard to guess," he said

Garth Bloom, a local resident of the area who was shopping last night, appeared apathetic over a possible store closing.

"If it's necessary so that the new people can continue - if Super Value is taking over, the faster this process is going the better it is, and I don't mind getting a good discount," he said.

"In the last months they haven't had a good selection of goods... so as I'm living close to here, I'm glad to see that there will be something new coming along."

Another shopper, Renee Symonette, was excited over the good deals, citing the recession.

"I'm just sorry I reach here so late. In this kind of time, this is a good thing," she said.

However, she also added: "It's sad because that means a lot of people will be out of their jobs. A lot of people in this financial crisis... You're not sure about the roof over your head and in these kinda times you don't know where you can get another job and some of these people were working here for years."

Another shopper with a cart full of items said that she had already been to three different City Market locations.

"It's fantastic," she said. "I've been to Harbour Bay, South Beach, and now I'm here. But I guess they are all closing. The shelves are empty - very empty."