A longtime California grocery chain is preparing to disappear from its hometown after nearly five decades in business. The company has announced plans that will affect two remaining stores and more than 100 employees.
O’Brien’s Market is closing its final locations
O’Brien’s Market, a family-owned grocery business in Modesto, California, plans to permanently close its two remaining stores this fall.
The company’s location on West Roseburg Avenue is expected to close on September 26, while the Dale Road store is scheduled to close on September 27. According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices, the closures will affect a combined 117 employees.
The closures will bring an end to O’Brien’s Market’s nearly 50-year presence in the Modesto area. The company currently lists its Dale Road and Roseburg Avenue stores as its remaining locations.
Founder’s retirement among reasons for closure
The decision comes as founder and president Chuck O’Brien prepares to retire. The company also pointed to broader challenges facing the grocery industry and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a goodbye message, O’Brien’s Market said the pandemic created major changes that the business was unable to fully recover from. The company also cited the current business climate as a factor behind the difficult decision.
O’Brien began working in grocery stores while he was still in high school before eventually opening his own business in 1978. Over the years, O’Brien’s Market expanded beyond Modesto, including a location in Riverbank that was sold in 2024.
One location could potentially remain open
There is still a possibility that one of the stores could avoid closure.
The company is exploring a potential sale of the Roseburg Avenue location. If a sale is completed before the planned closure date, employees at that store could potentially continue working under the new owner.
However, no final agreement had been reached when the closure plans were announced.
For now, the planned closures mark the end of an era for a longtime Modesto grocery name, while 117 workers face the possibility of losing their jobs.
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