BIDDEFORD — The Shaw’s location on Alfred Street is closing within a few weeks, a store employee has confirmed.

Details on the pending closure were sketchy this morning, but the employee, who said she was told by management that she could confirm the closure if asked, said the company anticipates operations will cease by July 4.

Employees were informed of the closure Monday afternoon.

Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant, reached before 8 a.m., said he’d heard of the closure unofficially.

“It (will) be a sad day,” when the store closes, said Casavant. “Shaw’s had a place here.”

Casavant pointed out that the grocery industry is a competitive one.

The store has been located Biddeford, near the turnpike exit, for more than a decade. Casavant said he remembers when it was built: that portion of Alfred Street was a far less built-up location than it is today.

Until two years ago, when the family-owned Market Basket chain built a new, state-of-the-art store about a mile away, Shaw’s was the sole supermarket in the immediate area. Hannaford also has a supermarket in Biddeford, located closer to the urban core.

It was unclear at press time how many employees would be affected by the closure and whether they’d be offered work in other Shaw’s locations. Store manager Dennis Dodge was not available for comment, and a corporate spokesman did not respond by press time this morning. Dawn Self-Cooper, who manages the Maine CareerCenter, said her office had not been informed of the closure decision.

Shaw’s has locations in Saco and Sanford.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].