Ream's to close flagship Provo store

(Daily Herald) After more than six decades in business, the flagship Ream's Food Store on 390 W. Center Street in Provo that launched the late Paul Ream's grocery store chain in Utah will be shutting down next month -- a victim of slower consumer spending and competition from big box discount retailers including Wal-Mart and WinCo Foods, and other area grocery stores.

"It's a decision we dreaded making but it had to be done," said Carl Willoughby, general manager of the nine remaining stores in Salt Lake and Davis counties, which each average around 40,000 square feet in size. "It is by far our oldest and smallest store, and there's no room to expand and remodel, and it is also the worst performer. The Provo store became unprofitable this past year for the first time in 65 years of business."

Thirty-five workers will lose their jobs once the Provo store closes, but efforts are underway to help the affected employees find jobs with other nearby grocery stores, he said.

Willoughby said the 12,000 square-foot Provo store has managed to hold its own in the face of aggressive competition from newer and bigger grocery chains and discount retailers like Wal-Mart, but the severe recession over the past two years dealt the death blow.

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