SmartCo Foods was developed as a new-concept grocery store for the Denver area, attempting to blend the “best features of a local supermarket, warehouse club store, and farmer’s market” at an affordable price. But just months after opening, the five local stores have gone belly up due to a lack of sales, and their 500 employees will likely be looking for new jobs during the holidays. An assistant manager tells 9News that most part-time employees will receive 20 hours of severance pay, and most full-time employees will get 40 hours. The doors are expected to close for the last time in about a month.

SmartCo Foods, part of the discount grocer Smart & Final Stores LLC of California, hasn’t revealed its sales figures, reports the Denver Business Journal, which points out that just a few months ago the chain had plans to open about two dozen more stores in Colorado in coming years. As closing sales get underway this week in Denver, Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, and Longmont, the company is encouraging workers to apply for positions in the Smart & Final Stores chain in other Western states.