Matos says Stop and Shop may be sitting on property without using it

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Stop and Shop responded to accusations by state leaders that it has been sitting on unused properties to keep competitors from moving in.

Lt. Gov. Sabina Mato’ office said that the company had been renting out several properties across the state but not using them, so other stores can’t use them.

“Rhode Islanders deserve affordable, accessible, fresh food, and we need healthy competition to deliver that,” the lieutenant governor said. “Restrictive covenants allow superstores to block competition, make fresh food scarcer and more expensive, and inhibit the growth of local grocery stores.  I want Rhode Island to lead the nation as the first state to pass a law against these anticompetitive agreements.”

A bill to stop the practice passed in the state senate in 2025, but never got a vote in the house.

Officials said they’ll try to get it passed again this year.

In a statement, a Stop and Shop spokesperson said the company does manage real estate on the side, including the site of one former store, but that they are looking for tenants and don’t restrict who can move in.

They also pointed out that the company terminated their leases at two former locations in 2025 and that one of them, at the East Side Marketplace, will soon be turned into a Whole Foods.

The full statement from the company can be read below:

While many customers know Stop and Shop as their local grocery store, we also operate many businesses related to our industry, including the development and management of commercial real estate. Stop and Shop currently has only oneformer store location in the state of Rhode Island that has a vacant lease. We are actively seeking tenants for this location and are in discussions with the town, landlord and prospective tenants for this property, which could include grocery stores as we have no restrictions on this lease.

Stop and Shop also terminated two leases in the state of Rhode Island with the closure of two stores in 2025. In both instances, the lease was returned to the landlord with no restrictions – and in one of those locations, Whole Foods will be opening in our former Eastside Marketplace store location. We are proud to serve the state of Rhode Island with 25 store locations and remain committed to investing in our stores, our communities, and in continuously improving the customer experience.