RALEIGH, NC - “The Triangle” has gotten a little too hot for retail giant Kroger, it seems. The company announced it will be closing and selling all 14 of its store locations in the Raleigh-Durham citing fierce competition and oversaturation.

"After a thorough evaluation of the market for a significant time period, we have decided to close our stores in the highly competitive Raleigh-Durham market," said Jerry Clontz, Mid-Atlantic Division President. "While we have had some success, we have not been able to grow our business the way we would like in this market."

Food Lion will take over the lease for at least one store, Harris Teeter—a subsidiary of Kroger, will purchase eight stores, and Crunch Fitness will also purchase one. The remaining stores are still up for grabs for now, according to the Raley Patch.

“The retail environment is challenging and changing in Raleigh-Durham,” Clontz continued in a press release. “Many retail analysts say the Raleigh-Durham market is over-stored.”

More than 1,500 employees, the majority of which are part-time, will be affected by the store closures, the Patch reported. Clontz said Kroger will be offering  job fairs, job placement services, and employee assistance programs to associates to help ease their transitions.

“We’re making every effort to assist our associates in finding employment,” Clontz explained.

The complete list of stores affected by Kroger’s decision is as follows:

• 202 W. NC Hwy 54, Durham
• 3457 Hillsborough Rd., Durham
• 5116 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham
• 1273 N.W. Maynard Rd., Cary
• 8345 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh
• 940 US Hwy 64, Apex
• 1802 North Point Dr., Durham
• 1371 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina
• 6300 Creedmoor Rd., Ste. 150, Raleigh
• 7905 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh
• 2680 Timber Drive, Garner
• 350 Six Forks Road, Raleigh
• 3420 Southwest Durham Drive, Durham
• 3825 S. Roxboro St., Ste. 101, Durham

In total, Kroger’s Roanoke, Virginia-based Mid-Atlantic has 122 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Kroger