Safeway in San Francisco halts closure plan after city agrees to provide police

Soon after Safeway shared it would be closing its supermarket location in the historically black Fillmore District of San Francisco, mayor London Breed announced the store would remain in business after agreeing to send more police to the area.

“Longtime Fillmore customers and residents have also expressed concerns with public safety in the area. As part of the site’s extension of services, Mayor Breed has directed the San Francisco Police Department to commit additional resources at this location,” noted the mayor’s office in a public statement.

The store had been set to close soon after the announced sale of the location from Safeway to a real estate developer who planned to turn the shopping center into a mixed-use development that will include both housing and commercial spaces — which means it could potentially include another grocery store. Safeway has promised to keep the store open until early 2025 as the city and the lot’s new developer, Align Real Estate, work to “find an interim solution to keep services in the area for the Fillmore community while future iterations for the site continue to be determined.”

“As soon as we heard Safeway’s announcement to close in less than 60 days, we said clearly, and unequivocally – not here, not now,” said San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston. “I am thankful that Safeway has listened to the hundreds of community members who demanded they reverse plans to close a critical location to so many of our vulnerable community members.”

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s “flagship” Whole Foods has been shut down since April of last year due to concerns about “employee safety,” though there was little pushback from city leaders.

“I’m incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Market’s Whole Foods,” said San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey when the store closed.

The Whole Foods location is now up for lease, suggesting the temporary closure is now permanent.

In-N-Out announced it would be initiating its first restaurant closure in the company’s history in nearby Oakland due to violence and crime against employees and customers, saying the restaurant location was still profitable.