Magruder's is closing all of its supermarkets—including its Chevy Chase store (at 5626 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC) and its Montgomery County locations in Gaithersburg and Rockville.

A letter available at the customer service desks of Magruder's locations said the Connecticut Avenue Magruder's liquor store in DC has been sold and will continue to operate under the Magruder's name. 

"We are currently in negotiations to sell the remaining four locations to a group who wishes to purchase the individual stores and reopen them as quickly as possible and we are working diligently with all parties involved," Magruder's Vice President Gary Bortnick wrote in the letter.

The letter thanked the store's employees, unions, vendors and customers. "Although this is a difficult decision ... now is the right time for our family to move on."

On Wednesday morning, large signs promoting a 50-percent-off sale lined store windows. Shelves normally lined with goods were partially empty, as people made a run on discounted items—particularly non-perishable things like paper towels. 

Gaithersburg Director of Economic Development Tom Lonergan said the loss of Magruder's would be a difficult one for the community.

"Naturally it’s regrettable when a company like Magruder’s, which has been a part of the city’s economy and landscape for so long, closes its doors," Lonergan wrote in an email to Patch. "Losing them obviously means the loss of jobs and the loss of a great place for our residents and workers to pick up some essentials."

Magruder's closed its Silver Spring location this summer.

Related Content:

• Future Of Gaithersburg Magruder's Unclear (Jan. 15, 2013)
• Rockville’s Magruder’s to Close, Supermarket Employees Say