By Denise Richardson
Penn Traffic Co. has told state officials it will close dozens of supermarkets in upstate New York, including the Cooperstown-area P&C; that has 47 jobs.
The company, which has headquarters in Syracuse, filed notice with the state Department of Labor that 55 P&C; and Quality Markets grocery stores and warehouses would close effective Feb. 15.
The list includes the Cooperstown-area P&C; at 5 Commons Drive, state Route 28 in Hartwick Seminary, which has 45 union jobs and two non-union positions, and the P&C; at 54 E. Main St. in Norwich, which has 64 union and two non-union posts.
The company has said that it still hopes to raise enough money to avoid shutdowns, according to a letter obtained by television station WSTM in Syracuse.
A manager at the Cooperstown-area store referred questions to Chuck Beeler in Syracuse, who refused to comment about the status of individual stores.
Penn Traffic told state officials that 4,142 employees of its P&C; and Quality Markets across the state will be affected when facilities close.
Penn Traffic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week.
Penn Traffic Chief Executive Officer Gregory Young said Wednesday that the company plans to sell off its stores and other assets, according to an Associated Press report, and he said the stores would remain open while a buyer is sought.
Penn Traffic has been in bankruptcy reorganization twice before in the past decade and closed a P&C; in Oneonta in December 2003.
