Big Island retail chain Sure Save Super Market Ltd. plans to close its last supermarket next month, turning the store space in Keaau over to Honolulu-based Foodland Super Market Ltd.

The transfer will help Sure Save weather the recession that has challenged one of the Big Island's oldest family-owned businesses, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2001 after shedding four supermarkets.

Foodland, the state's largest supermarket chain, is expected to be in a position to better serve the Keaau community and will consider hiring the 60 employees of the Puna Fresh Foods store operated by Sure Save.

"We are excited to bring Foodland to this area of the Big Island and look forward to serving the needs of this community with a full-service grocery store," Jenai S. Wall, Foodland chairwoman and CEO, said in a statement.

Sure Save has operated the 26,000-square-foot store at the Keaau Town Center since 1981.

The transfer is expected to occur in mid-November, and will involve the store closing for one week and reopening as Foodland Keaau.

Sure Save, established in 1953, will continue to operate three Wiki-Wiki Mart convenience stores, Wiki-Wiki Video, Wiki-Wiki Kitchen and neighborhood market Island Market on the Big Island plus an online store for Hawaii food at www.suresave.com.

"We are pleased that Foodland will take over the (supermarket) store and know they will serve the community well," Carl Okuyama, Sure Save president, said in a statement. "It's been a pleasure to watch the Puna community grow, and we would like to thank all of our loyal customers for their business over the years."

Foodland, established in 1948, operates 30 grocery stores statewide, including one Foodland store, one Foodland Farms store and three Sack N Save stores on the Big Island.