Retail analysts are watching the A&P bankruptcy very closely. A&P, which operates supermarkets under the A&P, Super Fresh, Pathmark, Waldbaum’s, Food Emporium and Food Basics, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. The corporation currently operates nearly 400 supermarkets across the northeast U.S.

What happens to those hundreds of locations now? How many will go dark and close, be sold to competitors or redevelopers? What impact will all these changes have on the other grocery brands (i.e. Shop Rite, Albertsons, etc) as the available markets come into play?

A&P owners contend that they will reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy as an ongoing concern. But with millions in debt, an expensive workforce and declining profits, the next step is clearly unknown.