NY-based grocer Tops buys Penn Traffic’s 79 supermarkets in Northeast

Grocer Tops buys BiLo, Quality, P&C chains’ owner

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tops Friendly Markets has bought Penn Traffic’s 79 supermarkets in the Northeast and will not close any right away.

Syracuse-based Penn Traffic, which filed for bankruptcy reorganization in November, operates P&C, Quality Markets and BiLo stores in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Hampshire.

Tops has said it is paying Penn $85 million in cash.

Tops, a 76-store chain based in suburban Buffalo, said Friday Penn Traffic’s stores all will remain open while Tops evaluates them over the next month. Tops CEO Frank Curci has said some might close.

The sale will deepen Tops’ roots in New York and Pennsylvania and extend its reach into Vermont and New Hampshire.