Supermarket chain Safeway is reportedly planning close 12 of its stores in the coming weeks. The grocer, which is a subsidiary of Albertsons Companies, currently operates over 900 stores across the United States. But Safeway will shutter the doors at some locations in Colorado, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
Ten of the planned store closures are in Colorado. Meanwhile, one store in Nebraska and one store in New Mexico will also close, according to a list compiled by USA Today. Albertsons attributes the closures to store performance.
“We continuously evaluate the performance of our stores, and occasionally, after long and careful deliberation, it becomes necessary to make the difficult decision to close certain locations,” Albertsons said in a statement to USA Today. “We are working to place affected associates in nearby stores wherever possible.”
Fast Company contacted Albertsons to confirm this list. We will update this story if we hear back.
Which stores are closing?
The following Safeway locations will reportedly close on or before November 7:
- 201 E. Jefferson, Englewood, Colorado 80113
- 500 E. 120th Ave, Northglenn, Colorado 80233
- 1653 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80222
- 12200 E. Mississippi, Aurora, Colorado 80012
- 3657 S. College Ave, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
- 860 Cleveland Ave., Loveland, Colorado 80537
- 5060 North Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
- 1425 S. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80916
- 315 W. 2nd St., La Junta, Colorado 81050
- 906 E. Olive St., Lamar, Colorado 81052
- 230 Morehead Street, Chadron, Nebraska 69337
- 730 W. Main St., Farmington, New Mexico 87401
Retail store closures are a growing trend
Retail closures continue to be a growing trend. Fast Company has been following what many have branded as the retail apocalypse nationwide, which has impacted retailers like At Home, Claire’s, and Rite Aid.
Many familiar retailers have sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as they restructure their businesses and reduce their brick-and-mortar footprints. Some chains, such as fabrics retailer Joann, have winded down operations completely.
Safeway isn’t the only grocery store reducing its brick-and-mortar footprint. In its first-quarter earnings report in June 2024, Kroger announced plans to shutter 60 of its stores by mid-2026.
The news of Kroger and Safeway store closures comes on the heels of a failed merger.
In October 2022, Kroger reached an agreement to acquire Albertsons for $25 billion—a move that would have created one of the largest grocery chains in the United States.
However, in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to block the merger, alleging that it would lead to higher prices and eliminate competition. Federal and state judges ruled that the merger was unlawful, and both companies terminated the agreement.
Grocery store closings contribute to food deserts
Grocery store closures impact local communities. In addition to job losses, closures result in reduced access to food. Supermarket store closures contribute to food deserts, a term used to describe areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
According to recent data from the USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas, an estimated 18.8 million people in the United States, or 6.1% of the U.S. population, live in areas with limited access to healthy foods. Organizations like Feeding America work to reduce food insecurity.
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