Kroger to close Broad Ripple fixture after 66 years

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The Kroger in Broad Ripple at 6220 Guilford Ave. opened in 1954. (Image courtesy of Google)

Kroger plans to close its long-standing Broad Ripple store at 6220 Guilford Ave. because of poor financial performance, the company announced Tuesday morning.

“In spite of our associates’ best efforts, the store has not operated profitably for several years and research indicates a turnaround is not realistic,” Kroger said in a prepared statement.

The Broad Ripple store, which has been in operation since 1954, will close in about 30 days, Kroger said.

The nearly 40 employees at the Broad Ripple location will have the opportunity to transfer to other Indianapolis stores.

Kroger has about 70 stores in the Indianapolis area. The closest locations to Broad Ripple are its store north of Glendale, less than two miles away at 2629 E. 65th St.; and its Nora store, less than four miles away at 1365 E. 86th St.

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35 thoughts on “Kroger to close Broad Ripple fixture after 66 years

  1. As an older shopper this size grocery store was perfect for most grocery items. I felt safe without the huge crowds looking for “tp”. A quick in and out. Money beats needs again.

    1. So a grocery store should not be able to make a profit (indeed, it has to lose money) just so you can do “quick in and out” shopping? Good grief.

    1. @Doug Haha. Don’t it seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…

  2. This is so sad to me. It’s a great store with great employees. I wonder how much the street closures and increasing disturbances on BR Avenue have contributed to this. 😢

    1. I would suggest the street closures and any disturbances have absolutely no affect. Please note, the spokesperson said the store hasn’t been profitable “for several years.”

    1. There’s so many grocers nearby, including Aldi, that it is unlikely any would open up in Broad Ripple.

  3. Some people in this thread should just stay north of 96th street. For the rest of us, Broad Ripple is a great urban village and I loved being able to visit during the street closures. I live along the Monon in Carmel. A 20-30 minute bike ride gets me straight to Broad Ripple and I’m able to dine outdoors and feel safer than being crammed into a restaurant in HamCo.

    This is unfortunate but Kroger has long resisted upgrading its legacy stores. It only refreshed 16/Alabama after years of intense community pressure. While there are other stores in Broad Ripple and the general area, they almost all carry a premium, and other stores are not walkable for Broad Ripple residents. I hope something better gets put in its place.

    1. Dustin – you should get out of your bubble. The Monon Trail is safe between Carmel and Broad Ripple.

    2. This is not about the monon. If you live in carmel you really shouldn’t be commenting on this. You are the ones in the bubble

    3. Dustin, despite what you’ve heard, Carmel isn’t in another galaxy. It is a suburb of Indianapolis located just north of 96th street. It is really easy to travel between the two. In fact many do every day, and many in Carmel (like myself) were born, grew up, and lived in Indianapolis for decades.

      And yes, I’ve biked at midnight downtown. Ooooooh scary, I know! But I don’t wear a mask when I’m on my bike. The purpose of the mask is for when being socially distant isn’t possible. That’s why you wear it, when you’re around others.

    4. from matthew S:

      “Some people in this thread should just stay north of 96th street. For the rest of us, Broad Ripple is a great urban village and I loved being able to visit during the street closures. I live along the Monon in Carmel. A 20-30 minute bike ride gets me straight to Broad Ripple and I’m able to dine outdoors and feel safer than being crammed into a restaurant in HamCo”

      WHAT??
      Matthew – I still live in the city. please tell us why you moved the this mystic place called carmel? is this where people go to look down on others and tell them they don’t know anything about their own neighborhood? I grew up in BR area and still live here so go lecture someone else.

    5. Despite what you’ve heard, Carmel isn’t mystic and it isn’t magical. It relies on Indianapolis being healthy. You can’t be a suburb of nothing.

      I’ve lived in Broad Ripple, went to school at Chatard. Hell I have friends who’ve worked at that Kroger. I know it well and it is an unfortunate loss for the area. What part of that sentiment do you think is me “looking down” on Indy residents? What knowledge do you have of Broad Ripple that isn’t apparent otherwise?

    6. Dustin – then what did you mean by your “bike down at midnight and see how it works out…” and “Broad Ripple has a problem…” comments?

      Are you just trolling?

    7. I’ve lived in Broad Ripple for 30ish years. It’s “changing”, and not for the better. BR used to have the monopoly on quirky, non-chain, dining and retail. No longer. With the emergence of Carmel’s Arts District and Mass Ave, there’s considerably more options and BR is not responding well to the competitive pressures.

      This Kroger may/may not be part of this situation. Kroger’s business model is decidedly against supporting these little and old stores. In their quest for mega-supermarket dominance, this store was an annoyance. “Isn’t profitable” may simple mean that it’s not profitable by their megastore standards since there’s no room for a Starbucks, bakery, deli, cafe, etc, etc. Its more surprising this store didn’t close 15 years ago.

    1. Perhaps people posting nonsense here should take the company at its word. Kroger said the store hasn’t been profitable for several years, long before the Red Line, and Broad Ripple is not a “food desert,” there are several grocery stores nearby. Stores close all the time, all across the country, and that is how it has always been. Much like people, they have a lifespan, and when it’s over, it’s over. Enough with both the handwringing and the snark. It will be interesting to see what moves into their old location. Life goes on

  4. Yet another Broad-Ripple-Village-Of-Old domino to fall, thanks in part to the public subsidy lavished by city officials on the developer of the Fresh Thyme market at the urging of the Broad Ripple Village Association and Midtown Indy.

    1. Kroger admitted the store has not been profitable for several years, which would mean before Fresh Thyme opened. Stop being bitter and get over it.

  5. Chuck K – I do not think I know you, but I do know you are woefully out of touch with the great things these local organizations are doing for your community.

  6. But it’s not profitable.. that means it’s not making enough money to continue business.. I’m always confused by this because I’ve lived in broad ripple my entire 30 year life, other than college, and every time something goes out of business people say things like this which make no sense. I love this Kroger. I’ve gone to it hundreds of I times and I’m sure it’s great for the community. But it’s literally Costing more money to operate the store than the store generates in business. I’m sad about it to but it’s not really a matter of emotion it’s just not profitable. I never understand these types of comments/debates

    1. People can still be disappointed in it and still recognize the economic realities of the business.

    1. A boutique hotel? Not happening. Let’s not act like the same type of development that contains the chipotle isn’t going in

  7. This would get too much push-back, but an architecturally stunning, ultra-modern, apt/condo building (include some affordable units ) with street retail. And it needs to taller than what’s gone up lately, way taller. This is now pretty much “downtown” Broad Ripple so let it become what it is meant to be!

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