Kroger will close one of its two Martinsville grocery stores, according to a statement from the company.

The store on Greensboro Road will close March 22.

“This store has not been profitable for several years,” company spokesman Carl York said in a statement. “Kroger kept the store open in the hope that its financial performance would improve, but it actually declined.”

The store employs 56 people, 29 of them part time. Some employees may be eligible to transfer to other stores, York said.

The grocer’s second store, at Liberty Fair Mall, is doing well and will remain open, York said.

Here is the full news release from Kroger:

KROGER TO CLOSE STORE IN MARTINSVILLE

Employees Can Move to Other Stores

     ROANOKE, VA. (January 23, 2012)—Kroger will close its store on Greensboro Road in Martinsville on March 22.

     A total of 56 employees, including 29 part time workers, will be impacted by the closing.  Under Kroger’s contract with Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, employees may move to other stores in Virginia, depending on their seniority. 

     “It saddens us to make this difficult decision,” said Carl York, spokesman.  “Our employees at this store are dedicated and have worked hard. This is a ‘bottom line’ decision, based on the economic conditions in the area.

     “This store has not been profitable for several years,” said York. “Kroger kept the store open in the hope that its financial performance would improve, but it actually declined.”

     Kroger’s second store in Martinsville is a few miles away in Liberty Fair Mall at 240 Commonwealth Blvd.  “This store is conveniently located with easy access from most any neighborhood in the community,” said York.  “We invite shoppers to take advantage of the value of being loyal Kroger customers through our low prices and great customer service.

     “The Commonwealth Blvd. store is doing fine,” he said, “and nothing would please us more than to experience an increase in sales that would result in creating more jobs there.”

     Kroger enjoys close ties to the Martinsville area, having opened its first store in l959. Kroger invests in the area through its annual sponsorship of two races at the Martinsville Speedway, the Kroger 250 Truck Race in the spring and the Kroger 200 Truck Race in the fall.

     In addition, Kroger supports the Martinsville community through a variety of charitable organizations, including Feeding America—Southwest Virginia Food Bank, the United Way, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Children’s Miracle Network, Special Olympics, Girls Scouts, Juvenile Diabetes, American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy and the American Cancer Society.

Kroger operates 124 stores in its Mid-Atlantic Region, based in Roanoke. The Mid-Atlantic Region serves Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and the eastern portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. For more information, visit www.kroger.com.