Longtime Area Grocer To Sell Remaining Stores

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Washington-area grocery store chain that's been in business since 1875 is selling its remaining stores.

Magruder's announced Wednesday that it has already sold its store on Connecticut Avenue in Washington and is in the process of selling its stores in Gaithersburg, Md., Rockville, Md., Alexandria, Va., and Vienna, Va. Magruder's is based in Rockville.

The chain is one of the region's last local- and family-owned grocers. Magruder's has been co-owned by two local families since 1967.

Bob Gorland of grocery store consulting firm Matthew P. Casey and Associates tells The Washington Post that Magruder's went into decline "because of extensive competition."

But many customers say they were loyal to the stores and are sad to see them go.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)