South St. Louis to lose last remaining Ruler Foods

July 28, 2026 29

ST. LOUIS — The last Ruler Foods in South St. Louis is set to close later this week, creating a significant gap in affordable grocery shopping.

Ruler Foods is closing its last store in the area at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 31, at 2700 South Grand Boulevard in the Tower Grove East neighborhood. The closure will make shopping that much more difficult for residents struggling with rising costs and limited options.

Ruler Foods is a discount grocery store offering basic grocery items at everyday low prices. It also offers a high concentration of corporate Kroger-brand products under the same low-cost structure. The store was known for its accessibility and affordability in a neighborhood where many residents operate on tight budgets.

The design of the store’s business model had affordability in mind. Customers bag their own groceries and “rent” shopping carts for a quarter. They receive their quarter back upon the return of the cart. This system cuts down on cart loss and vehicle damage in parking lots while passing savings directly to customers.

“The store really did a good job at what it does,” one regular shopper commented on local review sites. “Cheap groceries and they mean cheap.”

Ruler Foods store closure will impact region, resulting in a local food desert

The closure follows broader trends affecting grocery access in lower-income neighborhoods across the country. With major chain closures and a shift toward higher-end grocery concepts, residents in economically disadvantaged areas are increasingly finding themselves in “food deserts.” Food deserts are areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food.

Community advocates and local leaders expressed concern about the impact on residents who relied on Ruler Foods for budget-conscious shopping.

“This closure disproportionately affects families who are already stretched thin financially,” one neighborhood representative noted. “Without an affordable option like Ruler, residents will have to travel farther or pay more at other grocery stores.”

Residents will now face longer commutes to find similar discount grocery options, which may be available in other areas of the St. Louis region but not within walking distance of their homes.

Ruler Foods, a Kroger-owned brand, operated a network of locations across St. Louis. The closure of this particular location marks another setback for South St. Louis residents seeking accessible, affordable groceries.

The Kroger Company had plans to close roughly 60 underperforming stores under the greater Kroger banner over 18 months. Kroger would close the Ruler Foods location in Champaign, Illinois, in August 2025, as part of that campaign.

Community organizations are reportedly working to identify alternative resources and exploring partnerships with other discount retailers.