The Safeway grocery store chain has introduced that it’ll shut down one among its key areas in San Francisco in February because of issues that prospects and workers had been in danger from rampant theft and threats to their security.
The closure, which had been postpone for 11 months, will have an effect on the Safeway retailer on Webster Road within the Fillmore part of San Francisco, which had been working for the final 40 years.
The corporate stated that the shop will shut for good on Feb. 7, based on the San Francisco Chronicle.
Final month, surprising photos surfaced exhibiting a California man assaulting a feminine worker at a special Safeway location in San Francisco.
Safeway joins an inventory of big-name retailers which have shuttered shops within the metropolis, which has been plagued in recent times by an alarming decline within the high quality of life in addition to stubbornly excessive price of dwelling, hovering taxes and elevated incidents of organized retail theft, homelessness and public drug use.
Adidas, Macy’s, Zara, Nordstrom, Previous Navy, Sephora, Hollister, Aldo, J. Crew and Entire Meals are among the many model names which have both introduced retailer closures or which have already shrunken their footprint within the metropolis.
Safeway, a subsidiary of the Albertsons grocery store conglomerate, advised the Chronicle that it was “proud” of its historical past of servicing the Fillmore and Japantown neighborhoods of the town over the course of 4 many years.
The corporate stated it initially meant to shut the shop earlier this 12 months however postpone the transfer in order to “provide a greater transition period for the community.”
Safeway stated the choice was made “due to ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety, as well as persistent issues with theft.”
Locals within the space have often complained to police about automotive break-ins, assaults, loitering and unlawful dumping, based on the Chronicle.
All the retailer’s unionized workers will likely be reassigned to a number of of the 15 supermarkets that it operates all through San Francisco, the corporate stated.
“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,” Safeway advised the Chronicle.
Neighborhood residents waged a fierce public marketing campaign to foyer the corporate to not shutter the shop again in March, as was initially meant.
Native leaders have warned that Safeway’s departure would adversely impression different companies within the space whereas leaving residents with a dearth of grocers inside strolling distance.
Safeway advised the Chronicle that it was “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 shop stated in an announcement.
“We appreciate the time and resources you’ve invested in trying to help us find a way to stay open, but unfortunately, the challenges we face are too great to overcome.”
San Francisco’s outgoing Mayor London Breed stated she was “saddened” by the announcement, saying the Safeway “has played a central role in bringing community together.”
Daniel Lurie, the mayor-elect and Levi Strauss inheritor who defeated Breed, has pledged to beef up the town’s police presence and to close down open-air drug market. He will likely be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 8.
The Submit has sought remark from Safeway, Breed and Lurie.
