MR. K's FOOD CENTER CLOSES; LIQUIDATION SALE TODAY

Mr. K's Food Center closed Friday, but doors will reopen at 9 a.m. today for a liquidation sale.

Less than six months after opening the city's largest grocery supermarket, operators of the 60,000-square-foot store closed, citing financial reasons, said a spokesman for Supervalu, a grocery distributor with a facility at Scott City. It provided the bulk of supplies to the store, which was open 24 hours a day.

Supervalu owns the building. The future of the store and building will be discussed.

The closing came about quickly, said the spokesman. Employees were informed of the closing Friday. Some were retained to help with the liquidation sale.

Following a day of inventory Friday, the market, which was operated by the Schade family, will reopen today under management of Supervalu.

Store hours during the sale will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Shade Family -- Mr. and Mrs. Bill Shade and brothers Bob and Tim Schade -- opened Mr. K's Nov. 2. The family has been in the grocery business more than a half century and owns two Mr. K's Centers in Pekin, Ill.

Mr. K's Food Center was founded more than 50 years ago at Pekin by Wilber Korsmeyer. Involved in the family operation are Korsmeyer's daughter, Connie; her husband, Bill Schade; and his brother, Tim Schade.

The market here was a full-service supermarket minus a video department and pharmacy.

Mr. K's was the second grocery in the building since it opened in 1991. Shop 'n Save Warehouse Foods opened the first store in October 1991. It closed in February 1996.

Supervalu is one of the nation's largest food wholesalers, providing products to 4,350 independent grocery stores in 47 states.