HUBBARD — A grocery store is closing after a mediation hearing went unsettled.

The hearing was for a lawsuit being filed against the Save A Lot store operator by 880 West Liberty LLC. The lawsuit alleges the Hubbard Food Store LLC is $425,074 behind in rent.

Magistrate Jami Bishop, from the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, said she is going to hold a status conference with the plaintiff and defendant to determine future action.

She said aside from the fact the hearing was unsettled, she can’t make any further comment since mediation hearings are confidential.

Lori Cornell, a Save A Lot store manager, said she doesn’t know when the store will be closing.

“The owners aren’t telling us,” she said. “We hoped to hear more from the owner today, and they didn’t tell us anything. We received nothing but false hope.”

She said the store already is running out of food supply, including produce and milk, and no bread is left.

“We aren’t allowed to order a truck,” Cornell said. “We haven’t been able to order a truck for two weeks.”

Cornell said the owners and high-level managers held a meeting Monday that she tried to attend, but was asked to leave.

“It’s more than just a business to us,” she said. “We know these people (customers) and to not be able to give them an answer is very frustrating.”

She said Save A Lot is full of “some of the most dedicated, hard-working people she’s ever worked with.”

“We have a couple of widows that work to pay their bills, single moms, college kids and it really stinks with no notice,” Cornell said. “It’s not right. I feel for my store manager. She’s done a really good job here. There’s people who have worked here for 11 and 12 years and they’re in their 60’s and 70’s and now they have to figure out what they’re going to do next.”

Hubbard Mayor Ben Kyle said he is saddened to see Save A Lot close.

“Unfortunately, events outside of the control of the hard working employees led to this decision,” he said. “I can’t thank all of the employees enough for their dedication to the customers. The city and surrounding area needs to have more than one grocery store. I will continue to work towards a resolution that includes affordable and easily available food.”

She said it was mentioned the store might possibly stay open until Easter.

Cornell said store hours were changed to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily but could possibly be changed again.

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