Save-A-Lot grocery store in southwest Cedar Rapids closing

Low-cost grocer first opened in 1997; new tenant to occupy building in early 2025

Save-A-Lot Cedar Rapids closing
The Save-A-Lot grocery store at 1625 J St. SW in Cedar Rapids will be closing its doors by the end of 2024. CREDIT GOOGLE STREET VIEW

The Save-A-Lot grocery store in southwest Cedar Rapids, known for its low-cost, no-frills approach to grocery retailing, will be closing its doors by the end of 2024, its owners announced Monday, Nov. 25.

However, a new retailer is set to open in the building in early 2025.

Jim and Robin McVeigh opened the Save-A-Lot store in 1997 at 1625 J St. SW in 1997, in a building that formerly housed a Me Too grocery store.

“After almost 28 years of serving our community, my wife and I have decided to embark on a new chapter and I have made the heartfelt decision to retire and close our locally owned and operated grocery store,” Mr. McVeigh said in a statement via email. “When we opened our doors all those years ago, we were just two people, newly married and hoping to succeed in building a business.  Together, we raised our two children among the aisles, and it has been a joy to watch them grow alongside so many of you. Over the years, you’ve not just been customers to us; you’ve become friends, sharing in our lives and our community and we are grateful for the support you’ve shown us.”

A specific closing date wasn’t immediately announced, but “we know our doors will be closed by the end of 2024,” the McVeighs said in a release.

However, according to the release, the McVeighs are also the landlords of the property, and a lease has been signed for a new retail tenant to open at the site in 2025.

While the release didn’t name the new retailer, it indicated that “our community will soon welcome a well-known national store that will also offer grocery items.”

“It was very important to us to make sure another business opened to offer jobs and help keep the community moving forward,” the McVeighs said in the release.

Headquartered in the St. Louis area and founded in 1977, Save-A-Lot has about 900 independently owned and operated grocery stores in 32 states.