San Francisco's Mayor London Breed announced Monday that a deal has been made to keep the troubled Safeway store in the Fillmore District open until January 2025. Originally set to close this March, the store's life has been extended following talks between the mayor's office, Safeway, and the property owner, Align Real Estate.
The discussions focused on continuing essential services like banking, grocery shopping, and pharmacy needs for the local community.
Safeway Assists in Smooth Transition for Fillmore Community
Safeway announced on Monday its plan to provide time for the city and residents to prepare for the eventual closure of their Fillmore District store. "After we close, we'll still be there for the community through grocery delivery services.
We're also ready to help customers transfer their prescriptions to another Safeway store or any pharmacy they choose," said a spokesperson from Safeway. The company reassured its commitment to San Francisco, noting that it will continue to serve the city with its 15 other locations.
Earlier in January, Align Real Estate, the developer set to acquire the Safeway site, showed keen interest in advancing their development plans. "The developer is enthusiastic about the potential of the Webster Plaza site," Safeway mentioned previously.
The company views this development as a chance to contribute positively to the city, particularly in addressing San Francisco's housing shortage.
The Fillmore District Safeway has been at the heart of various local issues in recent years. In December 2022, community members held a town hall meeting to request more police presence in the neighborhood, highlighting their challenges.
The area around the supermarket, especially its parking lot on Webster Street, has been troubled by disturbances ranging from loud music from cars to drug dealing affecting the shopping experience.
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Safeway Store Stays Open Amid Development Plans
The Fillmore District's Safeway store, which was nearing closure following its sale to a real estate developer, will remain open until early 2025. The developer intends to transform the shopping center into a mixed-use project with residential and commercial spaces, possibly including another grocery store.
This decision comes as Safeway commits to keeping the store operational. At the same time, Align Real Estate, the new property owner, and the city seek temporary solutions to maintain services for the Fillmore community during the site's redevelopment.
San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston expressed relief at the decision, highlighting the community's strong reaction to the initial closure announcement. 'As soon as we heard about Safeway's plan to shut down in less than two months, our response was immediate and firm - not here, not now,' Preston stated.
He also acknowledged the community's significant role in persuading Safeway to reconsider its decision, emphasizing the store's importance to many in the community, especially the vulnerable.
Meanwhile, San Francisco's main Whole Foods store has been shut down since April last year, citing employee safety issues. Supervisor Matt Dorsey has shown concern over the closure, but city leaders have yet to take significant steps to reopen it. The recent move to put the Whole Foods location up for lease indicates that what was initially a temporary closure might become permanent.
The contrasting approaches of Safeway and Whole Foods underscore the critical need for prioritizing community safety and addressing issues swiftly. Mayor London Breed's effective intervention to keep the Safeway store open in the Fillmore District is an example for other businesses and city leaders. Her actions demonstrate the importance of ensuring resident well-being and maintaining essential community services.
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