Stewart’s Shops Closes Albany Store After Surge in Theft, Robberies, Threats of Violence

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Stewart’s Shops is closing an Albany, New York, store following a surge in theft, robberies and threats of violence that have created an unsafe environment for customers and employees, the convenience-store chain said Monday.

“We pride ourselves on being part of the fabric of the communities we serve, and we worked closely with Albany Police and City of Albany officials in attempt to resolve concerns at our Manning Boulevard shop,” said Stewart’s Shops president Gary Dake. “The safety of our partners and loyal customers remains an issue at this location.”

• Stewart's Shops is No. 23 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of company-owned retail outlets.

The store, at the corner of Manning Boulevard and Central Avenue, will close Thursday. Employees at this location have been offered positions at other Stewart’s Shops.

This comes as other retailers across the country, including Amazon, Sheetz and Wawa, struggle with safety and security at their urban locations.  

Over the past two years, the number and severity of incidents at the Manning Boulevard Stewart’s Shops have increased, the Ballston Spa, New York-based company said. Incidents ranged from robberies and theft to verbal and physical assaults, creating an unsustainable business environment, Stewart’s Shops said.

Other stores are faring better, though, and Stewart’s Shops said it plans to continue to look for opportunities to expand in Albany.  

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