RALEIGH, N.C. -- An area of Raleigh, that's already considered a food desert, is losing a major grocery store.

• The Save-A-Lot on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Southeast Raleigh will be closing
• One Save-A-Lot shopper said the closing will be a challenge for many in his community
• It's not clear why this store is closing, though Holley said larger grocery stores, which depend on larger purchases, tend to not do as well in lower-income neighborhoods

About four years ago, State Representative Yvonne Lewis Holley was part of a group who attracted the Save-A-Lot to Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Southeast Raleigh, after Kroger pulled out. Thursday, she was sad to hear it will soon close.

"It does break my heart to see it go," Holley said. "I have to admit that they did come over, and they made an attempt. And we've done everything that we felt that we could to keep it going."

The Save-A-Lot is owned by Variety Wholesalers, Inc, which is based in Henderson, North Carolina. A spokesman declined an interview, but confirms the store is closing. They haven't announced an exact closing date yet.

One Save-A-Lot shopper said the closing will be a challenge for many in his community.

Officially, the USDA deems the area around the store a food desert.

"A food desert is a community that does not have access to healthy foods or nutrient-rich foods, " Holley said. "Fresh produce, meats, those kind of items need to be in area where people have access."

It's not clear why this store is closing. However, Holley said larger grocery stores, which depend on larger purchases, tend to not do as well in lower-income neighborhoods. According to Holley, smaller stores, like Larry's Supermarket on Milburnie Road, are a great example of the type of store that can survive in Southeast Raleigh.

"We need to look at other practices, offering incentives for grocery stores to build in an area," Holley said. "And even though they don't make as much profit margin there, they make a big profit margin some place else. And maybe the balance can work."

A Save-A-Lot spokesman said they will help all of their employees at that closing location find jobs at other Save-A-Lot stores. They also said the store next door, Roses, which sells non-perishable food items, will stay open.