Another Bay Area Safeway to close

PINOLE, Calif. - Another Bay Area Safeway is closing its doors. The city of Pinole said it was notified last week that the grocery chain would close its location at the Appian 80 shopping center.

City officials expressed disappointment over the news but said they were hopeful another grocery store would occupy the space to serve Pinole residents. 

What they're saying:

"While the City is saddened by the store’s planned closure, we remain cautiously optimistic about future opportunities for the site," the city said in a news release, adding, "The property owner has indicated that the site is not on the market and that they continue to actively plan for a grocery store at this location."

Safeway said all the employees at the store will be transferred to nearby locations. 

The company said its lease was ending but did not offer specific reasons for why it decided not to extend the lease agreement.

SEE ALSO: Ayesha Curry's Sweet July store in Oakland to close

"We have been proud to serve the City of Pinole over the years, and this decision was not made lightly. With our lease term ending, we have carefully considered our options and decided to shift our strategy," a Safeway spokesperson told KTVU in an emailed statement. 

The backstory:

Pinole city officials said the city had worked with the previous property owners to develop a new Safeway that included a gas station and additional retailers. 

But when the new owners took over in 2023, the owners decided not to proceed with the plans. 

What's next:

"The City remains committed to supporting a strong and vibrant commercial corridor at Appian 80," Pinole officials said, adding, "The City looks forward to working with the property owner on exploring and supporting new opportunities that will strengthen the economic business corridor and provide needed services for our community."

The store is set to close on April 4, the city said. 

Safeway said its Pinole customers can go to its nearby Hercules store. That location, which has a gas station and pharmacy, is about 2.5 miles away. 

Recent San Francisco closure 

Word of Pinole's closure followed the controversial closure of the Safeway in San Francisco's Fillmore District. 

The chain said it made the decision due to persistent problems of theft and concerns about employee and customer safety.

Residents in the area protested the closure, saying it would be detrimental to the community, taking away a convenient option for groceries and prescription drugs.

The 3.68-acre full service store closed on Jan. 17, after operating at the location for 40 years. 

"Due to the rapid sell through of remaining inventory, the Webster Street Safeway closed permanently earlier than expected," Safeway told KTVU.

The pharmacy at the Safeway closed last week on Thursday.