Weis Markets today announced it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with T. C. D. Realty, Inc. to purchase two of their supermarket locations. The locations are the 50,000 square foot Thomas’ Foodtown in Dallas, PA and the 20,000 square foot Thomas’ Food Basics in Shavertown, PA. Thomas’ will continue to operate two of their other stores, in Shickshinny, PA and Hazleton, PA.
The Sunbury, PA based retailer said it expects the transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. Once the purchase is complete, Weis Markets will convert and reopen the Dallas location and will not reopen the Shavertown location. The store in Shavertown had recently been converted to the Food Basics discount banner.
“We have great respect for the operators and associates of Thomas’ Foodtown and Food Basics in Dallas and Shavertown and look forward to continuing to serve the Dallas area,” said Jonathan Weis, Weis Markets’ chairman, president and CEO. “We look forward to interviewing their associates for possible employment with our company.”
The Thomas’ Foodtown purchase continues an “infill” acquisition strategy that began in 2016 with Weis’ acquisition of 38 Food Lion stores in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, as well as five Baltimore-area Mars Super Markets and two Nell’s locations in Central PA.
The sale of the Thomas operation also continues the acquisition of Pennsylvania independents by larger chain operators. In the past 12 months Weis competitor Giant/Martin’s acquired stores from independents Darrenkamp’s, Ferguson & Hassler and Musser’s.
When the store reopens, Weis Markets will operate seven stores in Luzerne County. Weis is the share of market leader in Northeast PA.
