Eight Mars stores employing 583 employees are being closed. The Mars distribution center and corporate office, employing 96 staffers, is closing. Five stores, employing 519 workers, have been sold to upscale, Pennsylvania-based grocer, Weis. This is the end of an era in Baltimore retail food, with the last of numerous local chains dedicated to serving the working class customers closing. The geography occupied by Mars would have required the adoption of two different business models to continue operating, so they opted to sell. Ghetto chains have been gobbled up by major retailers or have simply closed. The expansion of retail food has been on the low end and the high end. At this point, the toughest supermarket to run, is one that does not have a high food stamp infusion and also does not have the high individual income amongst its customers to permit the sale of high profit prepared foods and gourmet offerings. Of the 13 locations, Weis took over the five that have upper-middle class client bases that can support their business model.

The Mars business plan focused on, “community,” with a lot of involvement in recreational sports activities and a focus on working class tastes. It comes as no surprise that they follow four other Baltimore-based food chains into the grocer’s graveyard.