Stop & Shop has closed four supermarkets in New Jersey and Connecticut during 2026. Here’s where the stores were located, when they closed and what the changes mean for shoppers.
Stop & Shop is continuing to reduce its supermarket footprint in the Northeast, with four locations in New Jersey and Connecticut closing during 2026.
The latest reductions follow the Ahold Delhaize-owned chain’s decision to close 32 underperforming supermarkets across five states in 2024. Unlike that earlier restructuring, however, Stop & Shop says the more recent decisions were made individually, based on store performance, rather than as part of another chainwide closure program.
Three of the affected supermarkets were in New Jersey, while the fourth was in Connecticut. All four have now closed.
Which Stop & Shop Stores Closed in 2026?
The following locations have been identified in company statements and local reporting.
| Location | Address | Closure Date |
| Toms River, NJ | 2360 Lakewood Road (Route 9) | March 26 |
| Westfield, NJ | 219 Elm Street | Oct. 22 |
| Basking Ridge, NJ | 553 South Finley Avenue | Oct. 22 |
| Clinton, CT | 215 East Main Street | Oct. 29 |
The directory reflects confirmed closures as of November 9, 2026.
New Jersey Stop & Shop Closures
Toms River: The Stop & Shop at 2360 Lakewood Road closed March 26 after the company decided not to renew its lease. Stop & Shop cited financial performance as the reason for leaving the Route 9 location.
The closure doesn’t represent a complete withdrawal from Toms River. Stop & Shop continues to serve the community through other supermarkets in the township, although shoppers who previously used the Route 9 location must now visit another store.
Westfield: Stop & Shop closed its longtime supermarket at 219 Elm Street on October 22 following a review of store operations.
The downtown location’s departure removes a major grocery anchor from an area near the Westfield train station.
Local officials have been monitoring redevelopment plans for the property, which changed ownership earlier in 2026.
Basking Ridge: The supermarket at 553 South Finley Avenue in Lyons Mall also closed October 22.
The location had housed a supermarket since 1970, originally operating as Grand Union before becoming Stop & Shop in 2001.
Its departure is particularly significant because it leaves Bernards Township without a conventional full-service supermarket within its borders. Residents can still shop at nearby supermarkets in surrounding communities, including Bernardsville, Berkeley Heights and Warren.
Connecticut Stop & Shop Closure
Clinton: Stop & Shop closed its supermarket at 215 East Main Street on October 29 after deciding not to renew the lease.
The company said the location wasn’t meeting financial expectations.
The closing leaves customers with other Stop & Shop locations in nearby Madison and Old Saybrook.
Discount grocer Aldi is also preparing to open a supermarket across the street at 224 East Main Street, with an opening anticipated in 2027.
What Happens to Stop & Shop Employees?
Stop & Shop has said employees affected by the closures will be offered opportunities to transfer to other company locations.
The company hasn’t disclosed a consolidated figure for the number of workers affected by the four closures.
In Clinton, approximately 100 employees were affected, according to Connecticut news reports.
Transfer opportunities don’t necessarily guarantee that every employee will accept or obtain a comparable position, but the company has emphasized its intention to retain workers where possible.
Why Is Stop & Shop Closing Stores?
Stop & Shop has been working to improve profitability and strengthen its competitive position in the Northeast.
In July 2024, the chain announced plans to close 32 underperforming supermarkets across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.
Those closures were part of a broader strategy involving store remodels, price investments and improvements to the shopping experience.
The latest reductions continue that effort, although Stop & Shop has emphasized that the individual decisions aren’t part of another large-scale closure announcement.
The company has also reduced its dedicated e-commerce fulfillment operations, shifting more online grocery order fulfillment back to individual supermarkets.
At the same time, Stop & Shop continues investing in stores it intends to retain, including price reductions and remodeling projects designed to improve competitiveness.
Are More Stop & Shop Stores Closing in 2026?
Stop & Shop hasn’t announced another chainwide closure program comparable to its 32-store reduction in 2024.
The four locations identified here represent the publicly confirmed 2026 closures reviewed for this report, rather than evidence of a broader new shutdown initiative.
Additional decisions remain possible as the company evaluates individual stores, but no further locations should be considered scheduled for closure without confirmation.
For shoppers, the most reliable way to check whether a particular supermarket remains open is through Stop & Shop’s official store directory.