Irvine Ranch Market Shuts Northridge Store

Irvine Ranch Farmers Market, an upscale grocery chain that recently filed for reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws, closed its Northridge outlet last week because the store was losing money, the company’s lawyer said.

“It was very quickly ascertained that this one wasn’t helping us,” Irvine Ranch lawyer Marc J. Winthrop said. “Most all of the employees were transferred to other stores, along with the inventory.”

Irvine Ranch, with headquarters in Costa Mesa, continues to operate 11 other stores in Southern California, including one in Woodland Hills near Warner Center. No decision about whether to close additional stores has been made, Winthrop said.

Irvine Ranch, known for its fancy produce and fresh meats, said it got into a cash squeeze because of overly rapid expansion. On July 22, the company filed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which protects the company from creditors’ lawsuits while it works out a plan to pay its bills.

The grocery chain is not affiliated with Irvine Co., a major Orange County real estate developer.