Retail Watchers

I know this is a shocker to all of you.

Marsh files for Chapter 11

Their intent is to sell the remaining stores. Good luck with that.

It's really too late for Marsh, their only hope is decent-looking stores in decent locations, their sale of the pharmacy and associated liquor license will make the stores less valuable and less inticing to sell. What's the overlap Kroger has with Marsh? It may be Marsh's last and best hope. (Giant Eagle won't take the risk, it's too small for Meijer, and there's no way J-O will go down there, considering that even IF they are S&VT's buyer, they've already reduced the 22 stores to 19)

As things start counting down, Marsh says they do have interested parties in the stores (signs at the remaining stores claim the store isn't closing--which is a lie since they'll either close in 60 days or they'll close when an interested party converts it). The popular rumor is Giant Eagle, and the statement by them more or less confirms that they're not interested, with them saying they want to focus on their Market District stores closer to their base markets (and not interested in a bunch of tired stores in Indiana). While Kroger will probably pick up some and Jewel-Osco might pick up one or two, the news doesn't report that SuperValu could be a suitor since they have the most to lose when Marsh closes, and they may be able to get a good deal on them since Marsh probably owes them money as well.

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/ ... 341756001/