Kroger is set to close 60 stores over the next 18 months, including one in Gassaway in Braxton County. The company said it is offering workers jobs at other stores, but it may not be a practical solution for the community. Christi Boggs said her town is like family, and the Kroger, which opened in 1979, is a staple of the community. “We can’t imagine losing our Kroger. There are 52 people who work here,” Boggs said.News of the closures came out when Kroger released its first quarter sales report for 2025. In it, the company said the closures of certain stores would allow them a “modest financial benefit.” Previously, Kroger said the Gassaway location had experienced several years of poor profitability. But Boggs can’t see it. “There is no decline. We can see that when we’re shopping, and from the employees themselves who say they stay busy all the time,” she said. Originally set to close in 2023 It is now set to close on Aug. 23, 2025.