Safeway Store Closures 2026: For shoppers who have relied on the same Safeway for decades, the grocery trip is becoming a little different in several US communities. Safeway has continued closing selected stores in 2026, but its parent company Albertsons says the moves reflect a broader review of its store network rather than a decision to leave entire markets.
The latest closures have affected locations in California, Oregon and Washington, DC. Some stores ended operations after their leases expired, while Albertsons has moved employees from several closing locations to nearby stores. The company is also continuing to look for opportunities to open stores in areas where it sees stronger demand.
That approach means Safeway’s 2026 closures are part of a larger reshaping of Albertsons’ grocery business rather than a simple nationwide shutdown plan.
Which Safeway Stores Have Closed in 2026?
At least three Safeway locations have closed in 2026, based on company statements and local reporting.
The confirmed locations are:
- Hayward, California: 231 W. Jackson St.
- Washington, DC: 1601 Maryland Ave. NE at Hechinger Mall
- Newport, Oregon: 2220 N. Coast Highway
The Hayward store closed in February, the Hechinger Mall location closed on May 16, and the Newport store closed in late July.
The list may not represent every Safeway location affected during the year because Albertsons has not published a comprehensive public list of all Safeway closures.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Hayward Safeway Closed After Lease Expired
Safeway’s store at 231 W. Jackson St. in Hayward, California, became one of the chain’s notable 2026 closures.
The company linked the decision to the end of its lease. The closure also marked another reduction in Safeway’s Bay Area footprint after earlier store shutdowns in San Francisco’s Fillmore district, Pinole and Vallejo.
Safeway said it was proud to serve the Jackson Triangle neighbourhood and described the decision as difficult.
“We have been proud to serve the Jackson Triangle neighborhood 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,” the company said.
The Hayward closure did not result in all employees losing their jobs. Safeway planned to transfer the store’s 76 employees to nearby locations under its union agreement.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Washington DC Safeway Closed After More Than 40 Years
Safeway also ended operations at its Hechinger Mall store in Northeast Washington, DC.
The 58,000-square-foot store at 1601 Maryland Ave. NE had served the neighbourhood for more than four decades before closing on May 16, 2026. Its pharmacy stopped operating earlier, on April 1.
Safeway said the decision followed the end of the store’s lease and that it planned to redirect resources toward other locations.
“Like all retailers, we are constantly evaluating our store footprint and have to look at every angle of the business. This includes our real estate portfolio. We are coming to the end of our lease at this location and have made the decision to reinvest our resources into other existing stores,” Safeway said.
The closure also changed the retail landscape around Hechinger Mall, which has been considered for redevelopment.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Newport Safeway Shut After More Than 30 Years
In Oregon, Safeway closed its only Newport store at 2220 N. Coast Highway in July.
The store had operated in the coastal city for more than three decades. A state WARN notice said 69 employees were affected by the closure, although some workers could continue with the company at other locations.
Unlike some communities where another Safeway remains nearby, Newport does not have another Safeway store.
The property is also expected to remain a grocery location. WinCo has already signed a lease for the former Safeway space and plans to open a Waremart store there.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Why is Safeway Closing Stores?
Albertsons says it is reviewing its entire store network to determine where it should invest and where it needs to make difficult decisions about existing locations.
The company has described its strategy as a combination of opening stores in markets with strong demand and closing locations where it believes resources can be used more effectively.
“[Our network positioning] includes opening new stores in areas with strong demand and long-term opportunity, while also making the difficult decision to close some locations,” the company said. “In these cases, we work to place as many associates as possible in other stores.”
Lease expirations have played a major role in several Safeway closures reported in 2026. The company has repeatedly indicated that closing one location does not necessarily mean it plans to leave the surrounding market.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Albertsons Is Reviewing More Than Safeway
The changes extend beyond Safeway because Albertsons operates a large collection of grocery banners across the US.
Its portfolio includes brands such as Albertsons, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme and others.
Fast Company reported that Albertsons has closed or planned closures across several of its banners in 2026, although the company has not provided a complete figure for the number of stores it expects to close during the year.
That makes the Safeway closures part of a much larger effort to reshape Albertsons’ overall retail footprint.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Failed Kroger Deal Changed Albertsons’ Strategy
The current store review also comes after the collapse of Albertsons’ proposed $24.6 billion merger with Kroger.
Kroger announced the planned acquisition in 2022, but regulators challenged the deal over concerns that reducing competition between major grocery chains could hurt consumers.
The merger ultimately collapsed after legal challenges blocked the transaction in 2024.
Since then, Albertsons has been able to make independent decisions about its store portfolio instead of preparing its locations for a potential combination with Kroger.
The company has consequently focused on adjusting its existing footprint, closing selected locations while continuing to invest in stores and markets where it sees stronger long-term potential.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: What Will Happen to Safeway Employees?
The impact on workers varies from store to store.
Albertsons has said it wants to place as many employees as possible at other stores when a location closes.
The Hayward closure provides one example. Safeway planned to transfer all 76 employees to nearby locations instead of laying them off.
The situation in Newport was different because the city does not have another Safeway location. The WARN notice identified 69 affected workers, while reports said some employees could continue working for the company at other locations.
Therefore, workers’ options depend heavily on the location of the closing store and the availability of nearby Albertsons-owned stores.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Is Safeway Leaving California, Oregon or Washington DC?
No. The closures do not currently indicate that Safeway is abandoning these markets entirely.
In California, Safeway continues to operate numerous stores despite several Bay Area closures. In Washington, DC, other Safeway locations remain open. The Newport closure is more significant locally because it was the city’s only Safeway, but Albertsons has not announced a broader withdrawal from Oregon.
The company instead says it is evaluating individual locations and deciding where its investment makes the most sense.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: Will More Safeway Stores Close in 2026?
More closures remain possible.
Albertsons has not released a complete list of Safeway stores that could close during 2026. The company has said it continues to evaluate its store network while also looking for opportunities to add stores in markets with stronger demand.
Recent reporting suggests the wider Albertsons portfolio will continue to see closures across different banners. However, the company has also indicated that it expects a net increase in its total store count during its current fiscal year, showing that the strategy involves relocating and reshaping its footprint rather than simply shrinking it everywhere.
Safeway Store Closures 2026: What Safeway Shoppers Should Know
For customers, the most important point is that a Safeway closure does not automatically mean the company is leaving the area.
In several cases, Albertsons has tied closures to expiring leases or decisions to redirect investment to other stores. Customers affected by a closure may therefore still have access to another Safeway or Albertsons-owned grocery store nearby.
For now, shoppers should check their local Safeway location for any closure notices, changes to pharmacy services or information about nearby stores.
As Albertsons continues its network review, more Safeway locations could face changes. But the company’s current strategy points toward a selective reshaping of its store footprint rather than a nationwide retreat from the Safeway brand.
