HUBBARD — A news release from one of two lawyers for the city’s Save A Lot states the store does not owe the landlord $400,000.

A lawsuit filed by the store’s owners alleges Hubbard Food Store owes $425,074 in rent. The store is closing because a mediation hearing between Hubbard Food Store LLC and the property owner, 880 West Liberty LLC, didn’t reach an agreement. The date of the store’s closing hasn’t been made public yet.

The store, which was registered by Donn F. McConnell, renewed its lease in 2016 with an agreement of a 67% increase in rent, according to Joseph M. Houser, an attorney for Hubbard Food Store.

“This was a substantial increase from the oral rent agreement between the parties over the prior four-and-a-half years,” he stated in the release. “Unfortunately, the McConnell family changed their minds and wanted additional money, which the store could not afford. The store had met the demands of the McConnell family made in September of 2023, and has now been told the lease will not be renewed.”

The original lease was developed in 2011 and was renewed in 2016. The previous lease ended in 2023, according to Houser.

He said the store operator and landlord have been trying to agree on terms for a new lease since 2016.

“Unfortunately, a new lease was not signed and the McConnell family initiated eviction action,” Houser wrote.

He also stated the Hubbard Food Store thanked the community for its support.

“Unfortunately, in this situation everyone loses. Our employees will lose their jobs, the community will lose a grocery store, the McConnell family will lose a tenant and Hubbard Food Store will lose a grocery store to operate,” he wrote on behalf of the store. “We truly wish the results of our lease discussions would be different.”

No one from the McConnell family could be reached for comment.

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