Safeway is closing more stores as its parent company, Albertsons, works to reduce and reorganize its grocery store locations, Inc. reports.
The supermarket chain operates more than 900 locations, primarily across the western U.S., with a smaller presence in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The chain has already shuttered at least three stores in 2026, in California, D.C. and Oregon.
The closures are reportedly part of a larger shake-up at Albertsons, which operates more than 20 grocery brands across 35 states, including Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets and Shaw’s.
Last year, Albertsons closed at least 30 stores across its various banners, including locations under the Carrs, Albertsons, and United Supermarkets.
The company has been reviewing its store network since its planned $24.6 billion merger with Kroger was blocked by a federal judge in 2024. Albertsons has since focused on managing its existing stores and cutting locations where it sees less long-term potential, though it remains unclear which other stores or brands could be affected this year.
“[Our network positioning] includes opening new stores in areas with strong demand and long-term opportunity, while also making the difficult decision to close some locations,” the company told Fast Company. “In these cases, we work to place as many associates as possible in other stores.”
The following Safeway locations have already closed this year, according to Inc.:
- 231 W Jackson Street, Hayward, CA
- 1601 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, D.C.
- 2220 N Coast Highway, Newport, OR
Most of the Safeway closures appear to be tied to expiring leases rather than the company pulling out of entire markets. In Washington, D.C., the Hechinger Mall location closed on May 16 after nearly 40 years because its lease was ending.
“We are coming to the end of our lease at this location, and have made the decision to reinvest our resources into other existing stores,” the company said in a statement.
Similar closures happened in Hayward, California, and Newport, Oregon. The Hayward store closed in late February, becoming the fourth Safeway in the Bay Area to shut down in just over a year, following locations in San Francisco’s Fillmore district, Pinole and Vallejo. The Newport store, which had been open for more than 30 years, was the city’s only Safeway.
"We have been proud to serve the Jackson Triangle neighborhood over the years, and this decision was not made lightly," Safeway said in a statement at the time. "With our lease term ending, we have carefully considered our options and decided to shift our strategy."
The closures have not necessarily meant widespread job losses. In Hayward, all 76 employees were transferred to other Safeway locations under the company’s union agreement. Safeway has followed a similar approach at many of its other store closures, moving employees to nearby locations when possible.
The Independent has contacted Albertsons for comment.