After a nearly yearlong delay amid outrage from local residents, the Safeway store in San Francisco’s Fillmore District will close for good in early 2025 after four decades in business.
A Safeway spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Bay Area on Wednesday that the Webster Street location will close on or around February 7.
“The store was initially scheduled to close earlier this year, but Safeway extended operations for an additional 11 months to provide the community with a longer transition period,” the spokesperson said. “We are proud of our 40-year history of serving the Fillmore district and are grateful to the residents, customers and community partners who have supported us over the years.”
Safeway said it would continue to serve San Francisco residents at 15 other locations around the city.
The retailer said the decision to close the store was due to “ongoing concerns” about the safety of customers and employees, along with “ongoing” issues with thefts at the location.
In January, the city and Safeway reached an agreement to keep the store open until 2024after residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the closure and sale of the site to Align Real Estate. The new owner plans to build a new mixed-use development on the site with residential and commercial space.
President of the San Francisco Chapter of the NAACP, Dr. The Rev. Amos Brown, told CBS News Bay Area after the January 4 announcement that the closure was a case of history repeating itself at the Fillmore and would create a food desert.
“This community has been economically disadvantaged for 50 years, and it is time for us to end this type of exclusionary and gentrifying activity,” Brown said at the time.
The company plans to transfer all employees at the Webster Street location to other stores in San Francisco. Pharmacy customers who have prescriptions at the location can transfer them to another Safeway or a location of their choice.
