Clarion's BiLo discount grocery store will close its doors to the public for good on March 13. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)

CLARION, PA., Feb. 25 – “Groceries are a necessity. Blowing the budget is not,” reads BiLo grocery store’s Web site.

For years now, the citizens of Clarion, Pa. have been relying on BiLo for all of their grocery, pharmacy, and bakery needs. However, on March 13, Clarion’s BiLo grocery store will close their doors for good.

BiLo has been one of the most commonly shopped at money saving grocery stores in the Clarion area. It has employed about 37 people – 26 being part-time employees.

The Penn Traffic Company was one of the leading food retailers in the eastern United States. BiLo was one of Penn Traffic’s retail food businesses. On Nov. 18, Penn Traffic filled for their third bankruptcy in 10 years. Eleven of the 79 BiLo stores in Pennsylvania will close. This includes not only the Clarion store, but stores in DuBois, Brookville, Saint Marys and three stores in Johnstown. A lot of independtly owned BiLos will close their doors, as well.

According to a press release released on Nov 18., Penn Traffic voluntarily filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to facilitate an orderly sale of assets while the company continued to operate its stores.

From November to February, the company continued to manager its properties and operated as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

However, as time has progressed, the company’s hole of debt became nearly impossible to get out.

A representative from BiLo’s corporate office could not disclose any more information other than, “Companies are given a certain amount of sales they are supposed to make within a certain time frame.

When they haven’t met the sales in that time frame, stores then close.” The store had been evaluated by Tops Markets, which bought the assets of the bankrupt Penn Traffic. Tops is continuing the evaluation of other supermarkets over a four-state area. So far, no plans to build or destruct the BiLo land have been disclosed.

Now that the store will be closing, students and other Clarion townspeople will have to resort to other grocery stores. “I always shop at BiLo and Aldi,” said sophomore Kristen Toy. “They have such great prices and what you can’t find at one, you can find at the other. It’s such a shame that they are closing.” Aldi, located on S 5th Ave, is also a grocery store for smart shoppers.

However, they don’t have as wide of a selection as BiLo does. BiLo has a variety of dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as brand name cleaning products and laundry detergents. “I usually get my groceries from there,” said Stephanie Smith, sophomore. “Mostly everything is cheaper there and nothing makes me hesitant to eat it!”

BiLo ensured customers that their products were from good vendors.

They offered their customers with customer service and they even included product recalls on their webpage for customer satisfaction and safety. John Persons, senior vice-president of operations for Tops, spoke with Clarion Borough Manager Nancy Freenock on Feb. 19. According to The Clarion News, in an e-mail Freenock sent to several people, she wrote, “According to John, since purchasing 79 stores from the Penn Traffic Bankruptcy, Tops has built an economic model of each of the stores.

They attempted to understand each store and determine its economic viability. “In the case of the Clarion store, it was difficult to make the model work.

Mr. Persons state that the Clarion store is too far from their market areas.” Although there are only a limited amount of employees at BiLo, Freenock said that Persons assured that the minimal number of workers has nothing to do with the closing.

Freenock announced that it is her understanding that employees are being afforded the opportunity to relocate where jobs are available.

She also stated that Freenock told her the property will most likely be returned to the bankruptcy court and eventually to the mortagagor.

As of now, Tops Markets will continue to stock the store with essentials such as bread and milk until the store closes on March 13.