Instead of shutting its doors on Jan. 31, the East Francis Fred Meyer Store will close on Feb. 2, the company has announced.

Jan. 31 was the original shut-down date chosen when the company announced the plan last year.

The change better fits the financial calendar that the Porland-based Fred Meyer group uses for its accounting, said spokeswoman Melinda Merrill.

Samantha Stout, the HR director at the north Spokane store, noted that the store may change hours in the final week or so before shutting down. It now stays open until 11 p.m., but could switch to 9 p.m., Stout said.

The closure follows failed efforts by Fred Meyer and the landlord, SMS Associates of Seattle, to agree on new lease terms, Merrill said.

Stout said Fred Meyer would have loved to continue the East Francis store, which has operated there for 39 years.

Business has been steady, and last year that store was voted the No. 1 store in the entire Kroger chain for level of employee happiness and satisfaction, Stout noted. "That reflects that we have some of the most amazing associates and they help make this a successful stoore," she said.