Downtown Raleigh's only full-service grocery closes

Raleigh, N.C. — Capital City Grocery, on West Franklin Street, shut its doors for the final time Saturday.

A notice posted on the store's front door announced that news to customers, who were still coming and going. The store officially closed at 7 p.m.

Capital City was the only full-service grocery store in downtown since it opened in 2006. Downtown Raleigh has gained two more non-full service grocery stores since then, with one opening this July.

Capital City closed in April 2007, but new management quickly reopened it.

Store management would not talk about the closing Saturday, but one customer said she wasn't surprised to see it happen.

"In terms of getting flour or butter or just milk or the basic things you need, they just don't always have them," downtown resident Jessica Macaluso said. "I've come in here to get lettuce for a salad, and they didn't have any lettuce."

Raleigh city Councilman Rodger Koopman said it's disappointing to see Capital City close.

“You don’t want to see any business fail, but this is particularly important because you don’t want to have to see people get back in their cars and go find a grocery store,” Koopman said.

Jeanne Hardy, who doesn’t drive, said she walked to Capital City Grocery several times a week.

“Now, I know they’re closing and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Hardy said.