Fresh & Easy to close 30 stores in Southern California

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Fresh & Easy is planning to close at least 30 stores in the Southern California area by April 3.

CEO Jim Keyes announced the company plans to sell 50 stores in a YouTube video posted Friday.

"While the decision to close any store is always difficult, we believe it's really important to use this opportunity to redeploy the cash that we're spending in these locations into other locations that are better suited to the needs of the customers," Keyes said.

"Some locations... we knew that they may not meet the criteria necessary for modern convenience for our customers," Keyes added.

The Fresh & Easy store in Pasadena faces plenty of competition. Pavilions is across the street and Trader Joes is also nearby.

Locations in Arcadia, Azusa, Buena Park, Camarillo, Chino Hills, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Hermosa Beach, Jurupa Valley, La Habra, La Mirada, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Ontario, Oxnard, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Tujunga, Upland, Ventura, Walnut Park and Westminster are among the stores expected to close.

Twenty other stores are slated to close in Nevada.

The chain was bought out of bankruptcy by The Yucaipa Companies in 2013.

Keyes noted some of the money will be used to build F3 stores, or express versions of the California-based chain.

Below is a complete list of stores: