Shaw's closing stores, cutting jobs

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Another major store has announced it will be closing its doors.

Shaw's Supermarket has announced that it will be shutting down five Rhode Island stores and two in Massachusetts.

Shoppers will be forced to do their grocery shopping elsewhere when the stores close next month.

"I like the store, I like the size, it's close to home...I'm going to miss it," frequent shopper Terri Coutu said.

Shoppers at the store on Bald Hill Road in Warwick echoed Coutu's sentiments.

"A lot of elderly people that can't get around, this store is the closest place for them if they live locally," added shopper Robin Nichols.

The big concern from the closings is the void they will leave for the employees.

Just before the holidays, Canadian based chain Tim Hortons closed all stores in R.I. and cut about six-hundred jobs.

In addition, Bugaboo Creek shut its doors on all its restaurants in R.I. in November.

"We really don't need to lose more jobs in this state and it's a really good store. I like coming to it," another shopper, Cindy Brown, commented.

However, the company hasn't revealed how many workers will be affected, but did say they will try to relocate employees wherever possible.

As of now, the exact closing date for the stores is February 17th.