Fresh Thyme Farmers Market at 52nd and O streets will close next month.
Lincoln's Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market store will close next month.
In an emailed statement, Gerald Melville, the natural foods grocery chain's president, said the store will close Oct. 16.
"All successful organizations continually review their performance and look for ways to improve. After many months of intense focus and support of this store, we have made the decision to close it," Melville said.
He said the company will work with employees to offer them employment at other Fresh Thyme stores "if possible." However, Fresh Thyme also plans to close its two remaining Omaha stores, which will leave no locations in Nebraska.
Melville's announcement comes after employees of the store at 5220 O St. started telling customers and posting on social media last week that they were told the store would close.
The Lincoln and Omaha stores also disappeared from the company's website over the weekend.
Fresh Thyme opened the 30,000-square-foot Lincoln store in February 2016. At the time, it was viewed as the anchor for the long-awaited redevelopment of the former Villager Courtyard and Gardens Hotel site.
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The Lincoln store was the company's first store in the state. Fresh Thyme later opened three stores in Omaha and one in Grand Island.
Fresh Thyme closed the Grand Island store, one of three Omaha locations, and a store in Ames, Iowa, in November because they were underperforming financially.
Fresh Thyme joins a number of other retailers that either have closed or are planning to close stores in Lincoln this year. That list includes Gordmans, Pier 1, Bed Bath and Beyond.
Lincoln stores that have closed or are slated to close
Photo Shoppe - May
Photo Shoppe in Piedmont announced closing plans in May.
Pier 1 - January
Pier 1's store at SouthPointe Pavilions is advertising a going-out-of-business sale.
Wright's Jewelers - November
Customers walk under a store closing banner at Wright's Jewelers in the Pioneer Woods shopping center at 70th Street and Pioneers Boulevard in early November.
Charming Charlie
Charming Charlie closed its store at SouthPointe Pavilions.
Dressbarn
Dressbarn, with a SouthPointe location, announced in May it is closing all of its stores.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic is closing its Lincoln store at SouthPointe Pavilions.
Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe announced the closing of its Gateway location and all other stores.
Shopko
Shopko closed its four Lincoln stores, including its location at 27th Street and Nebraska 2, this spring.
Rogers Jewelers
Rogers Jewelers at Gateway Mall is going out of business in 2019.
Mattress Firm
The Mattress Firm location at 5001 O St. closed in October 2018.
Sears
Sears' Lincoln location at Gateway Mall closed in March.
Post and Nickel
The Post & Nickel at 14th and P streets closed in November after 52 years.
Akin's Natural Foods
The Akin's Natural Foods store at 6900 O St. in Meridian Park closed in June 2018.
Toys 'R' Us
The 30,000-square-foot Toys 'R' Us store at 5220 N. 27th St. in Lincoln closed in June 2018.
Younkers
The 100,000-square-foot Younkers store at Gateway Mall closed in August of 2018.
Gap
The Gap store at SouthPointe Pavilions is closing by the end of January 2019.
Beauty Brands
Beauty Brands in Centro Plaza at 48th and R streets opened in 2016 (shown in photo) but was closing Jan. 19, 2019.
Husker Headquarters
Husker Headquarters in Lincoln Crossing on 27th north of Superior Street closed in April 2018. There is another location downtown, at Gateway Mall and at 5631 S. 56th St. in The Alamo Center.
Forever 21 - November
Forever 21 opened a store at Gateway Mall in June 2013.
Jos. A. Bank
Jos. A. Bank, shown at far right, will be closing its Lincoln location at The District at O Street because of its parent company's bankruptcy filing.
Gordmans
The Gordmans store at Lincoln Crossing had a liquidation sale after its owner, Stage Stores, declared bankruptcy.
Bed Bath & Beyond - September
Bed Bath & Beyond plans to close its north Lincoln location, shown here on the far right in the Lincoln Crossing shopping center.
Fresh Thyme - September
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market at 52nd and O streets was one of the major new retailers to open in Lincoln in the first half of 2016.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
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Matt Olberding
Business reporter
Matt Olberding is a Lincoln native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who has been covering business for the Journal Star since 2005.
