Shoppers wait in line to check out, some of whom said they waited for as long as 45 minutes, during a 50 percent off sale at the Grocery Bar in this file photo.Confusion dominated the scene Thursday at the Grocery Bar in downtown Chattanooga, which went from closing for good, to not closing for good, to partially closing the food store — all in a matter of only a few hours and broadcast widely on social media.
Grocery Bar initially announced last week that all items except alcohol would be marked down 20 percent through the end of this week, first for the Super Bowl, then for undisclosed reasons.
But Thursday morning, the Main Street grocer announced on its Facebook page and Twitter account that it would be shutting its doors for the last time on Saturday, and that all items except alcohol would be marked down 50 percent until then.
A few hours later, Grocery Bar owners flipped the script and made a second series of posts, this time thanking Chattanoogans for the outpouring of support and updating followers on the news that “your voices have been heard and management has agreed to stay open.”
“The 50 [percent] off sale is still in effect through Saturday and we need your help if we’re gonna stay alive!” the post stated.
But Thursday afternoon, employees at Grocery Bar didn’t know exactly what that update meant, whether the store would remain open for another day, another month or another year.
Employees said many of them heard about the change from folks who came in or texted, citing the “not closing” social media posts. The store upheld the 50 percent off sale, but “We are not closing” signs were taped up on Grocery Bar’s doors.
Owners did not answer questions about the store’s future on Thursday.
The Grocery Bar opened in July after its predecessor, Enzo’s Market, couldn’t generate enough business to support the small, independent grocery and restaurant on the city’s Southside.
A group of investors bought Enzo’s last summer and began implementing a strategy of offering more prepared food for on-site consumption, with the aim to generate more revenue.
The acquisition received much fanfare. But now less than a year later, one of the explanations offered by Grocery Bar managers for Thursday’s change of plans was that Grocery Bar’s owners had decided Thursday to just close the kitchen portion of the store and have Grocery Bar live on as a small, healthy food option grocer.
Regardless of the confusion, customers flocked to the store on Thursday and took advantage of the half-off sale, well into the evening. Grocery carts of soda and food stocks went out the door, and some customers waited in line for 45 minutes, or more, to checkout.
“Where were these people when they were not going out of business?” said Katie Kinder on Grocery Bar’s Facebook page.
When congratulated on the apparent turnaround in fortunes Thursday afternoon, one Grocery Bar employee simply shrugged and offered a sideways smile.
“We’ll see,” he said.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.