After three years of attempting to give shoppers shoppers a quick place to buy prepared foods, a la Fresh & Easy, the retail giant Walmart is closing all four of its Marketside stores this Friday.

The 16,000-square-foot stores, located in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Tempe, offered, along with prepared foods, items like roasted chickens, baked bread, produce, wine, and other groceries.

The Republic reports that the closures "will affect about 90 workers who will be given priority for job openings at other Walmart stores in metro Phoenix."

After abandoning Marketside, the Arkansas-based retailer, Reuter's reports, is now banking on Walmart Express, a small-store concept of general merchandise and groceries launched in June and designed to be placed in locations where its big-box concept won't work.

So far, the Republic reports, no Walmart Express locations are planned for Arizona.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter.

• Restaurant News