Neighbors worry as Food Lion closure nears in W. Ashley

WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) - Vivian Cash lives just a couple of blocks away from a Food Lion in West Ashley.

"[I'm] living with a sister-in-law who is disabled, [I'm] constantly going to the store for her needs," Cash says.

But her quick walk to the store at 65 Sycamore Ave. will soon change.

The store will close in mid-February after it was deemed "underperforming" by parent company Delhaize America, according to External Communications and Community Relations Director, Christy Phillips-Brown.

Many of the store's customers walk to the store, like Cash – who does not own a vehicle.

"To have to go somewhere else in the middle of the night when I come home from school, it's virtually impossible," she says.

State Rep. Wendell Gilliard (D) 111^th District has overseen transformation of that area over the past several years.  He says losing an anchor store like Food Lion would be difficult for neighbors.

"You have a lot of senior population in that area and they depend on that grocery store for many years, so it will definitely have a negative impact," he says.

Rep. Gilliard says the West Ashley area is thriving and many businesses and companies are moving in.

"One would have to question why any establishment would want to just say, 'ok, we're going to shut our doors and move'," he says.

The store's closing is expected by mid-February.  Phillips-Brown says about 35 employees will be affected.

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