A dozen Safeway stores throughout three states are slated to close by early November as the company aims to better align with consumer demand and ensure its long-term growth.
A spokesperson for Safeway's parent company, Albertsons, said the company consolidated the two of its divisions – the Intermountain and Denver divisions – into the newly formed Mountain West Division, which is now taking several steps to integrate the team structures and store networks of the two former divisions.
Ten Safeway stores in Colorado, one in New Mexico and one in Nebraska will cease operations on or before Nov. 7.
"Safeway has proudly served these communities for decades, and the decision to close these stores was not made lightly," the spokesperson said. "With a focus on growth, these closures will enable us to continue investing in our store network and better align with evolving customer needs."
Shoppers at Safeway supermarket store, 757 E. 20th Ave., in Denver, Colorado on Monday, September 2, 2024. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post / Getty Images)
The spokesperson said that the company will continuously evaluate the performance of its store and "occasionally, after long and careful deliberation" close certain locations that it deems necessary. However, the company said it's working to place affected associates in nearby stores when possible.
The mayor of Lamar, Colorado, Kirk Crespin, posted on Facebook that one of the locations, Lamar Safeway Store No. 1721, had been operating for more than a half century and will officially close its doors to the public on Nov. 7.
A customer shops at a Safeway store in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
"I received official notice from the Director of Communications with Safeway’s Mountain West Division, confirming this difficult decision," Crespin posted, adding that 53 workers are getting laid off or moved to other locations as a result.
"Safeway has been more than just a grocery store—it’s been a part of Lamar’s daily life, a place of connection, and a symbol of stability for generations. Its absence will be felt deeply," he said, adding that the city will "continue working closely with our economic development partners to recruit new businesses—especially one that can provide similar goods and services to meet the needs of our residents."
A shopper outside a Safeway store in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (Isabella Falsetti/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The following Safeway stores are closing on or before November 7, 2025: