Cub Closes Midway Grocery Store, Lays Off 96 in St. Paul

The Impact of Cub's Closure on St. Paul’s Midway Neighborhood

In just under two weeks, the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul will experience a significant change as a major grocery store closes its doors and another storefront remains vacant. This development has sparked concern among residents, workers, and local officials who are now looking for solutions to address the growing void.

Cub, a well-known grocery chain, will permanently close its University Avenue West location on August 2. The closure will result in the layoff of 96 employees starting September 22, according to a filing with Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development. Cub began operations in Stillwater and has expanded to over 100 stores across Minnesota and Illinois. Prior to its acquisition by UNFI in 2018, the chain was owned by SuperValu, based in Eden Prairie.

UNFI has not provided any comments regarding the reasons behind the closure. However, UFCW Local 1189, which represents nearly all of the affected workers, expressed deep concern about the situation. The union highlighted that most of the employees have layoff protections and may be eligible for severance pay under their union contract. They are also working to place affected employees at other UNFI-owned facilities and plan to meet with company representatives to discuss the closure in detail.

“We’ve fought hard for contract protections that serve as a safety net,” the union’s statement read. “We’ll enforce every provision and fight for equitable placement and compensation.”

Another Cub store in the state recently announced its closure, but this situation is different from the one in St. Paul. In contrast, Miner’s Inc. acquired three stores in the Brainerd area and plans to close the Baxter location in September while rebranding the others as Super One Foods. The company is offering interviews for jobs at its stores to the more than 200 impacted employees.

Just a few miles away in downtown St. Paul, Lunds & Byerlys closed its grocery store in March after initially trying to reduce hours and lower inventory. It was the only full-service grocery store in the city center but struggled with staffing and profitability. Factors such as low foot traffic due to remote work and increased security costs to combat shoplifting and vandalism were cited by company officials.

While other grocery options remain in Midway—such as an Aldi and various Asian or ethnic markets—the closure of Cub has raised concerns. Interim St. Paul City Council Member Matt Privratsky expressed disappointment over the loss of a unionized store like Cub. He hopes another union grocery store will move into the space, emphasizing the potential opportunities this could bring.

Privratsky noted that development around Allianz Field, including a hotel that started construction this summer, is underway. However, there are long-standing concerns about stalled progress in the area. Financing gaps, lawsuits, and the pandemic have delayed plans for new housing, restaurants, and offices. Much of the 35-acre former Midway Shopping Center site remains underused and vacant.

Chad Kulas, executive director of the Midway Chamber of Commerce, said it is essential to learn from previous tenant departures and consider what can be done differently. “It’s still pretty new to process fully, but we want to work with anybody we can to help those developments in those buildings.”

St. Paul Ward 1 Council Member Anika Bowie and Mayor Melvin Carter’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Cole Hanson, a public health professional and candidate for the Ward 4 council seat, called the Cub closure “demoralizing” but unsurprising. He pointed out that the area has faced challenges, and companies often leave when times get tough.

For residents like Joe Hughes, a regular Cub shopper, the ending hits hard. “It’s devastating,” he said.

The closure of Cub marks a significant shift for the Midway neighborhood, raising questions about the future of local businesses and the needs of the community. As the area continues to evolve, the focus will likely turn to finding new solutions and opportunities to support residents and businesses alike.