The Winn-Dixie Company LLC confirmed it will close two Harveys Supermarket locations in Jacksonville in mid-May while converting two more to the Winn-Dixie banner. The closures affect stores at 201 W. 48th St. in North Shore north of Brentwood and 49 Arlington Rd. S. in Arlington. The decision comes as part of the company’s broader strategy to consolidate operations under the Winn-Dixie name.
“We can confirm that we have made the difficult decision to close the Harveys Supermarket locations at 201 W. 48th St. and 49 Arlington Rd. S. in Jacksonville in mid-May as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our business,” said Meredith Hurley, Winn-Dixie senior director of communications and community. The company emphasized its commitment to supporting affected employees through the transition. Associates who wish to continue their careers with Winn-Dixie may apply for open positions at nearby stores, and eligible associates who do not transfer will receive severance.
“Transformation sometimes requires difficult decisions, and in certain cases this can mean closing stores when it’s necessary to support the future success of our company,” Hurley said. The West 48th Street store is a 43,149-square-foot facility built in 1983 that was converted from SaveRite to Winn-Dixie in 2011 and then to Harveys in 2016. The location sits about 1 mile east of the Winn-Dixie in Gateway Town Center along Norwood Avenue.
The Arlington Road South location is a 46,222-square-foot store built in 1988 that operated as a Winn-Dixie before converting to Harveys in 2017. The store is located about 2.5 miles southeast of the Winn-Dixie in College Park at 999 University Blvd. N. City Council member Ken Amaro, who represents District 1 where the Arlington store will close, expressed concern about the impact on local residents.
“It is unfortunate because that now creates a ‘food desert’ for the neighborhood on that side of Atlantic Boulevard,” Amaro said. He acknowledged corporate financial considerations while hoping the new owners would find ways to continue serving the area. The closures will leave some Jacksonville neighborhoods with reduced grocery access, particularly affecting residents who relied on these locations for their shopping needs.
Meanwhile, Winn-Dixie is converting seven Harveys Supermarkets to the Winn-Dixie banner, including two Jacksonville stores at 5909 University Blvd. W. and 5250 Moncrief Road W. The University Boulevard location sits in the Santa Monica Center between Beach Boulevard and Interstate 95 in the Englewood area. The Moncrief Road store operates in Brown Plaza at southeast Soutel Drive and Moncrief Road north of New Kings Road in Northwest Jacksonville.
“We will continue to share updates as each location moves through its transition. Our priority remains on building a strong future for our company and to provide the high level of quality and service our customers expect and deserve. We appreciate the support of our associates, customers and the First Coast community,” Hurley said. The conversions are part of a broader plan announced on March 16 that includes four additional Florida stores in Lake City, Lakeland and Ocala, plus one in Folkston, Georgia.
The changes reflect Winn-Dixie’s strategy to focus on Florida and Northeast Florida after selling stores in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and much of Georgia. The company completed a complex ownership transition after German grocer Aldi bought about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores from Southeastern Grocers in March 2024. A consortium of private investors led by Southeastern Grocers CEO Anthony Hucker and supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers acquired the remaining 170 stores in February 2025.
Aldi has significantly expanded its Northeast Florida presence, now operating at least 24 stores in the region with 15 in Duval County, four in St. Johns, three in Clay and two in Nassau. The German discount retailer announced plans to continue its Southeast expansion by converting close to 80 additional Southeastern Grocers locations. Based on current store counts, Aldi has caught up to Winn-Dixie’s presence in Northeast Florida, intensifying competition in the local grocery market.