Haggen wants to close 100 stores, including Aberdeen TOP Foods

Haggen has asked a bankruptcy court for permission to close 100 more stores, the bulk of its ill-starred bid for a West Coast empire, after they were unable to find any interested buyers, according to The Suburban Times. Employees at non-core stores and the company’s Pacific Southwest support office will receive 60days notice of pending closures, the company said.

The Washington locations selected for closure include the Tacoma store at 111 S. 38th Street, one store each in Gig Harbor and Milton, and stores in Port Orchard, Burien, Everett, Shoreline, and two Renton locations.

“Haggen has a long record of success in the Pacific Northwest and these identified stores will have the best prospect for ongoing excellence”, John Clougher, CEO of Haggen Pacific Northwest, said in the news release.

Company officials said they are exploring sales of its stores in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. The company added that it is trying to get the Federal Trade Commission to lift a restriction on Albertsons’ stores hiring Haggen employees.

Haggen was founded in the Pacific Northwest and was a small chain in that region before it bought 146 stores from Albertsons.

Haggen previously said it has received commitments for up to $215 million in debtor-in-possession financing from its existing lenders to maintain operations and the flow of merchandise to its stores during the sale process.

Haggen plans to sell all property, inventory and furnishings in the closing stores, but it needs court approval to start. “We have great locations, an experienced management team, a talented support team and tremendous leaders and associates in our stores who have already developed meaningful relationships within the communities we serve”.

A list of the impacted stores can be found on the Haggen website.

In a statement sent to employees Tuesday, UFCW 21 President Todd Crosby said union representatives were advocating on behalf of Haggen workers in the bankruptcy proceedings. During this process, all stores will remain open.

“This has been a priority for Haggen management to ensure its employees can take advantage of every opportunity available to them”, the company said in a statement.

Days later, Haggen announced its bankruptcy filing and the replacement of Bill Shaner, the company’s executive in charge of the Pacific Southwest region.