Rising rents in Chelsea may force a longtime Chelsea grocery store to shut its doors in a couple of months, but residents and politicians are trying to make sure that doesn't happen. NY1's Michael Scotto filed the following report.

Dozens of people gathered Sunday outside the Associated Supermarket on 14th Street, desperate to save a grocery store that has been in the neighborhood for 30 years.

"This supermarket is one of the last-remaining places for affordable groceries in this neighborhood," said City Councilman Corey Johnson.

The owner of the store says he has no other choice but to close in May because his landlord wants to jack up the monthly rent by 225 percent, from $32,000 to $104,000.

Elected officials say this is another case of a vital neighborhood service being forced out by a greedy real estate developer.

"It's putting greed ahead of folks who need fruits and vegetables," said State Senator Brad Hoylman.

This is not the only supermarket in Manhattan that is struggling to stay open. In Washington Heights, residents are fighting to make sure that their Associated isn't forced from its longtime home.

Neighborhood action there resulted in the building owner coming back to the negotiating table and trying to work out a deal to save the store.

With neighborhoods all across the city quickly becoming gentrified, small stores are being replaced by national chains willing to pay significantly more rent.

"When we lose the pharmacies and the bodegas and the supermarkets, we're losing the heart and soul of our neighborhood," said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

Longtime residents and shoppers say buying groceries will become more difficult if the store closes.

"Price-wise it's better. And you know, we're so used to it for many years and this shouldn't be happening to us," said one shopper.

"I constantly come here. There's nothing affordable in the area, and it goes for grocery stores, it goes for restaurants, it goes for laundromats, just completely eliminates the middle class from this neighborhood," another shopper pointed out.

Residents are passing around a petition that they hope will put pressure on the landlord to change his mind.