Safeway reportedly notified San Francisco Mayor London Breed (D) of its intention to close one of its locations due to theft.
The letter, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, said Safeway was scheduled to close earlier in the year, but “extended its operations … to provide a greater transition period for the community.”
Safeway wrote that while it was “proud” of its history in the area, it ultimately chose to shut down due to “ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety, as well as persistent issues with theft.”
The store’s employees will work at other stores.
“We remain committed to serving San Francisco at our 15 remaining locations, and to ensure that our unionized workforce can perform their jobs in safe and secure working environments,” the grocery chain said, adding that it is “actively working on a transition plan to ensure a smooth and secure closure of the store, while allowing for continued access and traffic flow to neighboring businesses.”
“These are difficult decisions we make as a business with more than 255 stores across Northern California, and we do not take it lightly,” the store said. “We appreciate the time and resources you’ve invested in trying to help us find a way to stay open,
According to the outlet, the San Francisco Police Department has received reports such as car break-ins, assaults, loitering, and illegal dumping.
Breed said she was “saddened” by the announcement. She noted that San Francisco will ensure that “our residents and seniors continue to have access to healthy food, banking and pharmaceutical needs and will be working closely with the community, local businesses and commercial property owners to attract these vital services to existing storefront vacancies.”
In 2023, Whole Foods closed its flagship San Francisco store just over a year after it opened, also citing concerns about crime and drug use in the area.
