Less than one day after a Facebook Post announcing the closing of the two Bing’s Grocery Stores in Sedalia, many unanswered questions remain about what will happen to the locations.
Speculation centers on the possibility of the Woods Supermarket chain, based in Bolivar, as a possible buyer for the stores. In July, Woods acquired the pharmacy customers’ prescriptions from both Bing’s locations, prompting the speculation.
Multiple attempts to reach a company spokesperson for Woods were unsuccessful Thursday.
The Democrat also reached out to the corporate offices of Hy-Vee, who has also been rumored to be a potential franchise coming to Sedalia, but Hy-Vee also did not return multiple calls Thursday. However, after several citizens posted to the Hy-Vee Facebook page requesting the grocery store chain locate in Sedalia, Hy-Vee posted the following response early Thursday morning: “We’re not currently planning a store in Sedalia, but I will pass your suggestion along to our Real Estate team!”
Employees at the Bing’s locations were unwilling to go on record with the Democrat, but did confirm the accuracy of a sign posted on the doors of the stores which read, “Due to closings, we will no longer be taking checks or charges.” Employees also confirmed the hours of operation would move to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
The employees of Bing’s are union workers and a union spokesperson has agreed to speak to the Democrat Friday to answer questions surrounding the effect of the closing of the Bing’s locations on the employees of the stores.
The Democrat also made numerous attempts to speak to management of Webb and Son’s, the owners of the Bing’s locations, but both phone calls and a visit to the office of the company were met with no response.
Bing’s, a family-owned chain, has been in business in Sedalia for more than 50 years.
Check back with the sedaliademocrat.com and the weekend edition of the Sedalia Democrat as more information becomes available.