The Cub Foods in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood is closing in less than two weeks, according to a notice sent to the State Rapid Response Team on Monday.

The store and pharmacy located at 1440 University Ave. West will close to the public on Aug. 2, the notice says.

"I wasn't surprised because there are always a lot of things missing," Robert Osorio, of St. Paul, said. "Shopping carts and baskets — they would always steal them. They've bought several, but they usually just last a few days or weeks."

As a result of the closure, approximately 96 employees will be separated or laid off beginning Sept. 22. 

In the WARN Act notice, Cub Foods wrote it is "impossible" to know with certainty which employees will be separated due to transfer and bumping rights under collective bargaining agreements for unionized employees.

A majority of the employees are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1189, with a handful represented by Bakery Confectionery Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers Union Local 22. Only five employees do not have representation.

People in the area won't be completely without alternatives, with an Aldi and Target located within a mile of the soon-to-be shuttered store.  

"It felt like a gut punch for much of the community who sees Cub Foods as a vital part of our community," St. Paul Councilmember Anika Bowie said.  

Residents say the Hamline-Midway neighborhood has been plagued by crime, homelessness and drug use in recent years. Community members even held a town hall last October, looking for ways to clean up the area.

"Many issues we were seeing were crimes of poverty and crimes of people who don't have social services," Bowie said. "This is by no means pointing fingers. I think we all share the responsibility that all of our businesses in the Midway Marketplace are safe."

One way the city hopes to improve the area is through its United Village project in the area surrounding Allianz Field, which is located across the street from Cub Foods. The development includes an office complex, restaurant pavilions and a hotel.