Four of the five stores of Houston's Rice Epicurean Markets are set to close, and The Fresh Market will take over the locations. The Levy and Freidlander families, who founded Rice Epicurean more than 75 years ago, will retain ownership of the properties. "We've been in the grocery and real estate business, and as we look to the future, we see real estate as the business with the most opportunity," Chief Financial Officer Bruce Levy said.