Hard Luck: Lucky’s sees fortunes turn as company faces store closures, bankruptcy

NIWOT — After 16 years of riding a rocketship of growth and expansion, Boulder-born Lucky’s Market plummeted back to Earth in January with the announcement of widespread store closures and a declaration of bankruptcy.

Lucky’s story is one of entrepreneurial triumph followed by an ambitious — but ultimately doomed — attempt to leverage major corporate backing to transform the company from a beloved regional chain to a nationwide natural-foods powerhouse.

Founded in 2003 by husband and wife duo Bo and Trish Sharon, Lucky’s grew from a single grocery store location in north Boulder to…