The Star Markets store in Moiliili is to close Monday evening, the first of two Star stores that were expected to be shuttered by the chain's new owner, Times Supermarkets.

Times, which announced its purchase of Star in July, at that time said it planned to sell Star's Moiliili and Ewa Beach stores to CVS, the owner of Longs Drug Stores, and operate the remaining five Star stores under the Times name.

Representatives of Times and CVS could not be reached for more information yesterday. But the Star store in Moiliili is informing customers that it will close at 9 p.m. Monday.

Star's other stores are in Kalihi and Mililani on Oahu, in Honokowai and Kíhei on Maui, and in Líhue on Kauai.

Star, a kamaaina grocery chain established by the local Fujieki family in 1927, decided early this year to leave the grocery business after abandoning plans to renovate its stores.

The decision followed the closure of Star's Kahala store and sale of its Kaneohe store to Walgreens in 2007. Those moves resulted in the loss of 91 jobs, though the company made efforts to move some employees to other stores.

Times previously said it expected to employ more than 1,600 people after the Star acquisition — about 1,100 employees from Times and close to 600 at Star, though it wasn't clear if those figures accounted for the closure of two stores.

Times is owned by an affiliate of Stockton, Calif.-based PAQ Inc., which owns supermarkets under different brand names in Northern California.

Times has 12 stores and also operates two Fujioka's Fine Wine stores plus Shima's Market in Waimanalo. Its acquisition and operation of the five Star stores significantly increases its share of the market dominated by Foodland Super Market and Safeway. The combination also would give Times a presence on the Neighbor Islands.

Safeway operates 19 stores statewide, and plans for several new stores are in the works. Hawaii-based Foodland leads the state with 30 locations, and also is adding stores.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.