Homeland to Shut Down Stores in Norman, Edmond, and Lawton in 45 Days
Major Changes at Homeland Grocery Stores in Oklahoma
Shoppers and employees at several Homeland grocery stores in Oklahoma are experiencing significant changes as the employee-owned chain announced the closure of four locations within the next 45 days. The decision has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among regular customers who have relied on these stores for years.
Homeland informed its employees about the closures on Wednesday and shared the news with the public via Facebook on Thursday. The affected stores include:
- Homeland on Bryant in Edmond
- Homeland on Alameda in Norman
- Homeland on Robinson in Norman
- CashSaver in Lawton
For many, the news came as a surprise, especially since these stores had become an integral part of their daily routines. David Ortman, a long-time customer in Edmond, expressed his disappointment: “It’s real convenient for us, and I like the personnel here. So, this is sad news that it’s closing.” Similarly, Doug Shirley from Norman said, “I’m sad because I enjoy shopping here.”
Homeland has pledged to support the employees impacted by the closures. In a post on Facebook, the company stated, “We will do everything possible to place impacted employees into open positions within our company.” Ortman added, “I get to know the employees by face, and so I sure hope they get taken care of.”
The closures come after concerns from customers about the condition of the stores. FOX 25 News asked Homeland in December about reports of empty shelves and potential store closures. While the company cited financial pressures and supply challenges as reasons for stock shortages, it did not announce any closures until later.
CEO Frank Archer explained that the decisions were part of a broader strategy to stabilize the company. “These decisions are not easy,” he said. “Some of these stores have been part of their communities for years, and we’ve worked hard to keep them open as long as possible. But to move forward, we have to focus on building a stronger foundation.”
In addition to the closures, Homeland plans to consolidate at least three other locations, with grand reopening events scheduled for July 1. The consolidations include:
- United Supermarket consolidated to Homeland in Clinton
- United Supermarket consolidated to Homeland in Elk City
- United Supermarket on Oklahoma Avenue consolidated to United Supermarket on Eighth Street in Woodward
Homeland is also marketing nearly a dozen other stores for sale, calling it a “transparent and proactive process to explore all options for the business.” The locations being marketed include:
- Lincoln & 36th (151)
- Bartlesville (381, 467, 515, 563)
- Ponca City (460)
- Stillwater (469)
- Justin, Texas (478)
- Sand Springs (595, 778)
- Cleveland (752)
The company has not set a timeline for these sales, but it emphasized that the goal is to return to the fundamentals of a great neighborhood grocery store: fresh food, real value, and strong community connection. Over the next 90 days, customers can expect to see visible improvements across its core market, with a larger reopening moment planned for July 1.
For some longtime shoppers, the closures still feel personal. Ortman reflected, “It was a neighborhood store. I was glad the employees were participants in it. So, I had a lot of reason to be sad it’s leaving.”
