THE LIST: Supermarket mega-merger would divest Kroger/Albertsons of three West Seattle grocery stores

Jeff July 9, 2024 (4:20 pm)

Admiral?! Not Jefferson Square? The low inventory understaffed store that’s going to be demolished for light rail? That’s the one they want to keep? Easily the worst grocery store in the West Seattle, and that’s the one they keep.

Joel July 9, 2024 (4:34 pm)

Exactly what I was thinking
AlkiRenter July 9, 2024 (4:58 pm)

And that should tell you all you need to know about Kroger.
Jason July 9, 2024 (6:01 pm)

Piggly Wiggly is better though so I don’t mind this 🤷‍♂️
Delridge Resident July 9, 2024 (7:48 pm)

I thought the same thing. Would they get a payout as a result of the light rail demo? If so that might be one explanation for why they’re keeping it.
- 1994 July 9, 2024 (9:38 pm)
  
  They must have Sound Transit tax dollars in their eyes, and hear the ka-ching!!!! for property pay out.
  - Back on July 10, 2024 (12:12 pm)
    
    That ka-ching-payout sound is really your license plate fees going up.
Bill July 9, 2024 (8:45 pm)

Surprise! Surprise! —
My two cents July 10, 2024 (5:08 am)

Safeway store/Jefferson does not own the property in question.
22blades July 10, 2024 (8:58 am)

Guess there’s more money in Real Estate & ruinous competition chicanery than actually making money on groceries. It’s like Boeing makes quarterly ROI than airplanes.
Mellow Kitty July 10, 2024 (11:08 am)

Agreed! I don’t own a car. So now the nearest affordable grocery store will be at least a mile away!?! Do these corporate hacks understand the needs of customers?? It’s hard enough walking a quarter of a mile loaded down with groceries. This merger should NEVER have been approved! What happened to laws against monopolies? Being poor gets more expensive every day. I hate corporations so much. I truly hate them. Just a bunch of greedy a-holes!
- WSB July 10, 2024 (11:25 am)
  
  It has not been approved (yet, anyway). It’s still before the Federal Trade Commission as well as being the subject of lawsuits including one in which our state is involved.
- Hector July 11, 2024 (6:36 am)
  
  The stores are changing ownership, c &s wholesale is taking over the store. I took got rid of my car and bike to one of the stores. I think it could work out cause Kroger is a buzz kill.
Jeff said it July 11, 2024 (2:22 am)

Exactly what I was wondering

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy July 9, 2024 (4:21 pm)

I’ve never been more in favor of using state money to sue to stop this. Glad they are doing it.

Kt July 9, 2024 (4:34 pm)

I always wanted to shop at a Piggly Wiggly

CW July 9, 2024 (5:45 pm)

I lived in the South. The town had a Piggly Wiggly. Went there once – never again.
- K July 10, 2024 (7:59 am)
  
  Piggly Wiggly’s not bad. Now Jitney Jungle, on the other hand… (before the Winn Dixie takeover)
ARPigeonPoint July 10, 2024 (6:56 am)

It’s like shopping at a filthy k-mart. I moved here from New Orleans. HATE IT. Safeway is soooo nice.
- Jason July 10, 2024 (10:27 am)
  
  Safeway down the block is the literal opposite of nice. So it’s really just depends on location. Piggly wiggly was pretty world class where I’m from so YMMV. So much better than Kroger. I mean Safeway in California is “Vons” and they all are gross. And so is any Safeway in East Bay when I lived in Hayward CA.

Richard Curtis July 9, 2024 (4:38 pm)

What seems curious is that the company acquiring the three stores is a wholesaler not a retailer. This means they moving into retail? Meaning a company with no experience is taking over those stores. Perhaps that answers the first comment, someone else noticed the one store that seems to be struggling and left it off the list. As to the second comment, it is actually a very important use of state resources to stop monopolies from forming and/or growing because it saves us (the tax payers) money in the long run, the much more money that we would have spent on higher prices in monopoly stores.

K July 9, 2024 (9:39 pm)

Piggly Wiggly is one of their holdings, and that’s definitely a retail store. Would be nice to get some of those here, but also kind of weird. What’s next, Winn Dixie?

Math Teacher July 9, 2024 (4:39 pm)

What is this? Quick money grab by selling off valuable real estate?

Jason July 9, 2024 (6:02 pm)

You’re describing every business ever basically

Frank July 9, 2024 (4:39 pm)

Definitely some weird choices…Like, why keep the White Center/Roxbury Safeway and not the Westwood village QFC?And why are the 2 “good” Safeway/QFCs on the list while the “bad” one at Jefferson Square is safe?I’m sure various factors like rents and staffing costs exist, but it definitely feels odd.

CW July 10, 2024 (6:59 am)

The Westwood Village QFC looks like it has been in shutdown mode for months. And the Admiral Safeway is a nice store! Mergers aren’t good for the people.
- datamuse July 10, 2024 (4:54 pm)
  
  Seriously, I feel bad for the staff at Westwood, some of whom have been there almost as long as I’ve shopped there, which is longer than I care to think about. The Roxbury Safeway is pretty nice these days, though. Lately we’ve been going there more as the QFC stopped stocking some specific things we usually buy.
Andrew July 10, 2024 (12:02 pm)

It appears that C&S is acquiring the entire QFC brand, so it’s possible that the only change to your QFC experience will be that you will be getting Pig Points instead of Kroger Rewards.

WSB July 9, 2024 (4:45 pm)

Added above, the link to our September story about the QFC stores likely going (we had the Piggly Wiggly discussion in comments then, too!)
https://westseattleblog.com/2023/09/biznote-qfc-stores-might-get-a-new-owner-and-or-a-new-name/

bradley July 9, 2024 (4:55 pm)

Brutal. Just brutal.

Joan July 9, 2024 (5:01 pm)

This is unacceptable! I agree with above comments. The Admiral Safeway is superior to Jefferson Square, and has a gas station and BECU outlet. Plus they remodeled and what the heck would go in that space? Same with QFC, what the heck would go in that space? We need at least one in the Junction. Save the Admiral Safeway! This makes me so very angry. Surely all those locations have plenty of customers. Why close them????

WSB July 9, 2024 (5:12 pm)

This is not a closure list. It’s a list of stores Kroger/Albertsons wants to unload in hopes that would make the merger more approvable. Doesn’t mean closure might not happen someday somehow, but that’s not what any of the parties says will happen.
Wsmama July 9, 2024 (7:07 pm)

The list is NOT a closure list, it’s a list of potentially divested or sold list. They based their numbers off volume and money. C$S want the money not value of the store. Admiral makes more money than Jefferson obviously due to its size and choices they have. Seattle stores have it harder than other Safeways (not in seattle).

CarDriver July 9, 2024 (5:11 pm)

There’s also union employees in these stores. Would a new owner honor the contract or try to go non union?

Millie July 9, 2024 (5:14 pm)

So, we are left with Metropolitan Market in the Admiral District, the “sad” Safeway at Jefferson Square, Thriftway at the Morgan Junction and the Safeway on Roxbury. Limits our options for groceries. But would increase foot traffic at the remaining grocery stores on the West Seattle Peninsula.

Lisa July 9, 2024 (6:07 pm)

Did you forget about Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and PCC?
rme July 9, 2024 (6:36 pm)

Don’t forget PCC, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods!
Moved from Delridge July 9, 2024 (6:36 pm)

The stores are not closing… Read ..
- Wsmama July 9, 2024 (7:08 pm)
  
  Thank you. There is ALOT of assumptions and not enough fully reading of the statements or articles to justify jumping to conclusions
Becky July 9, 2024 (6:52 pm)

There’s also a PCC on California!And had been said elsewhere, the locations listed aren’t closing, but under new ownership. Of course that doesn’t guarantee their survival, but at least keeps them around longer.Who knows? These stores could eventually become Sprout’s, Wegmans, Aldi’s, or even an international grocery store.
- Bill July 9, 2024 (8:53 pm)
  
  “These stores could eventually become Sprout’s, Wegmans, Aldi’s, or even an international grocery store. “
  Gosh! — Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
  - KWest Seattle July 9, 2024 (10:11 pm)
    
    Sprouts! I love this idea but can’t picture them signing up for a place like West Seattle.
  - Jill Quinn July 10, 2024 (7:28 am)
    
    WEGMANS 🥰
Shelly July 11, 2024 (2:28 am)

From chatting with friends who drive and hour for groceries we are overly spoiled here. I can walk to PCC met market and Safeway. I love the admiral Safeway and love to shop with the app pick up but it’s gotten sad, the inventory isn’t the same these days however still pretty nice compared to junction Safeway. I avoid both the WS QFCs used to like them but that little garage parking is a nightmare and west wood QFC is sketchy. Love the Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Don’t make it down to thriftway. They probably want to use the real estate money back into company because of how rough the economy got. I hope things pick up for PCC their financials were not as strong as the prior year.

Admiral-2009 July 9, 2024 (5:20 pm)

Admiral Safeway is one of best performing Safeways in Washington, unloading this store makes no sense! Unloading the junction Safeway would make sense.

Not sure why the junction and Westwood QFC’s are on the list

Moved from Delridge July 9, 2024 (6:39 pm)

The regulators are making the corporations unload their best performing stores.
- Curious George July 9, 2024 (7:45 pm)
  
  Reminds me of Bartels being sold to Rite Aide. Not good for the consumer.
Jeff July 10, 2024 (7:19 am)

It’s good performance is precisely why it was included……..

Crwood July 9, 2024 (5:47 pm)

Alaska Junction will still have Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Closer to Admiral Junction is PCC.

Jeff July 10, 2024 (7:18 am)

Trader Joe’s is a time bomb. Light rail route plans to take it. But it will likely re-open post construction.

Matt B July 9, 2024 (5:48 pm)

How to make Westwood Village even worse: axe the QFC. Honestly, the WWV space is awfully small, making the Junction QFC seem positively luxurious in comparison. I wish we could get a NICE a grocery store like that on the south end of West Seattle. Jefferson Square Safeway should be showered in bleach and razed, lol.

Waldo July 11, 2024 (2:31 am)

WS village has become concerning with much more undercover police working the target. Experienced a life theft at ulta where the criminals loaded backpacks with perfumes. Friend and her son watched a robbery at the sports store there the criminal did apologize for the boy having to see this. Turn that QFC to a Trader Joe’s. I’m tired of all the Kroger stuff.

Ron Foust July 9, 2024 (6:25 pm)

We can only hope this merger is blocked. I love the QFC in the junction, friendly staff and is usually well stocked. This would be a major blow to the Union workers, if the new company is non union. Those are workers that live in our community that make a decent wage.Keeping the Jefferson Square Safeway is a head scratcher…

Morgan July 9, 2024 (6:34 pm)

I have to admit we are pretty elitist …we have the most grocers of anyplace in Puget sound. If there was one place that could lose a couple and have others pick up slack it’d be here. Although, I get the affordability of Safeway relative to others…what’s this piggly wiggly biz? Isn’t admiral too big for them?

Bill July 9, 2024 (8:57 pm)

Woudn’t it be great if there was only one mega grocery store for all of West Seattle?
- Seattlite July 10, 2024 (8:00 am)
  
  How would you handle the parking, egress/ingress for one mega store? It brings to mind the 100% chaos that the Fourth Avenue COSTCO’s parking area has become in recent years.
K July 9, 2024 (9:42 pm)

A Piggly Wiggly would serve roughly the same customer base as Safeway, unless their business model and customer focus have changed wildly since i lived in a part of the country that had them.

AlkiDreamin July 9, 2024 (6:57 pm)

Regulators don’t choose stores to close. I believe the regulation is about having multiple owned stores within close proximity. The corporation chooses which stores to sell in order to avoid violating the prohibition. This merger should be shut down, it’s clearly undermining competition and not serving our community.

sekai rider July 9, 2024 (7:12 pm)

OUCH! they’re taking away my neighborhood QFC, such a great store! and leaving no other QFC around. I do not like that J Sq. Safeway, sometimes I feel unsafe there, and sometimes it looks unclean & messy. The parking is limited. It’s also too small to be the only safeway in this part of west seattle. Can’t believe they would remove that newer, larger, busy and popular admiral safeway.

WSB July 9, 2024 (8:03 pm)

Again … this is NOT a closure list. Kroger/Albertsons, if the merger is allowed, would sell the stores on the list to the third company as mentioned.

Matt July 9, 2024 (7:24 pm)

Remember that divesting doesn’t mean it closes, means someone else could buy it. For sure the QFC in Westwood would probably attract buyers as it is not close from Safeway on Roxbury and there is nothing else there. The other 2 locations may not be as attractive with 2 supermarket nearby but we shall see

Valued Safeway Customer July 9, 2024 (7:37 pm)

Bob Ferguson was right to file a lawsuit blocking the merger.

S. Nickels July 10, 2024 (6:52 am)

On that note, who do we write too? I get that business needs to make a buck but I don’t have to go down without having a say. I, like most people, like their particular grocery store. No matter where in West Seattle. I was in Bartell’s in North Admiral the other day and it made me sick. There was so little product in the store. I’m surprised they are still open. Grocery stores the caliber of Safeway are needed in North Admiral as well as QFC in the Junction. We have those in our neighborhoods that are living near by. Walking is important. It is not so much I don’t want things to change, but I don’t want to be taken advantage of either. Who do I write to?

Jon Wright July 9, 2024 (8:15 pm)

I am sure a big part of this is that C&S would not do the deal if all they were getting were the dregs. This divestiture has to be worth their while, too.

BDJ July 9, 2024 (8:17 pm)

Here is a link to the info about Atty Gen Bob Ferguson suing Kroger to stop the merger. Write to him and make sure he knows your thoughts. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kroger-albertsons-merger-washington-state-lawsuit/

AlkiDreamin July 9, 2024 (8:26 pm)

@Matt, the grocery industry is rough because mergers like this make it a monopoly, very difficult for a newby to compete. Amazon has endlessly deep pockets and couldnt pull off their acquisition of Whole Foods. Selling almost certainly equates to closing in this environment. Up in northern WA, forget which companies, a grocery merger was approved and a new buyer entered the market, acquired all of the sale properties and… mwah mwah, I think they declared bankruptcy.. or at the very least closed the stores. Anyone recall the details?

WSB July 9, 2024 (9:05 pm)

Probably this
https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/economy-business-finance-and-labor/2016-03-29/conspiracy-albertsons-buys-back-grocery-stores-at-a-bargain

Do it then July 9, 2024 (8:33 pm)

I’ll just have to deal with Costco membership fees and parking over shopping at C&S which is unimaginably worse than QFC prices.

Ookla the Mok July 9, 2024 (8:35 pm)

This thread is so Seattle. Nothing but ill-informed, hysterical panic claiming we will have no choices, except Thriftway, Trader Joe’s, PCC, Target, Met Market, Whole Foods, the WS Sunday Market, the two Safeways that remain, and (if you would just read) the DIVESTED stores operated by a new owner. And given that the commenters on this site believe everyone has a car (why else would so many lose their minds over new development without parking) you can also make a short trip to Costco or Burien. It amazes me how self-absorbed and out-of-touch this city can be and has no idea how good we have it. Please, get some perspective and spend some time in communities that truly have no choices except a Super Wal Mart and maybe a tiny IGA. Then maybe you’ll realize the embarrassment of riches we have and go back to bickering about the things that matter most to you…pickleball, the burdens of living in a city with safe and healthy streets, ugly townhouses, and the horror of not being able to park your ridiculously large SUVs and pick-ups within ten feet of your million dollar homes.

Anywhere but here July 9, 2024 (10:30 pm)

Word.
ACG July 10, 2024 (12:26 am)

Burien Safeway is also on the list. LOL.
CW July 10, 2024 (7:08 am)

Hmmm… Ookla, want to check your own prejudice a little?

Polar July 9, 2024 (9:01 pm)

All the “it’s not closing, just divesting” folks would be well-served to remember haggen’s debacle about 7 years ago. Bought a bunch of stores, rebannered to meet regularions, replaced the seasoned workers with younger cheaper folks, then promptly closed those stores. then filed BK. next up here with this round after this inevitably goes through will be a buyback of the original sold stores adn yet another pay cut to the workers.

K July 9, 2024 (9:45 pm)

Except this time we might get stores with an adorable pig on their logo. Haggen’s logo was garbage.
AR July 9, 2024 (9:59 pm)

It’s also relevant to remember what happened to Bartell’s when they were taken over by Rite-Aid. That went downhill pretty quickly–a once well-regarded, long-time Seattle institution is a now a shadow of what it used to be with many empty shelves (in the stores that didn’t get closed yet).

Kris July 9, 2024 (10:34 pm)

And that’s why after 40 years living in West Seattle – I shop in Burien – easier access, more options greater selections no light rail destruction- nicer people ….

Admiral-2009 July 9, 2024 (10:46 pm)

Ookla the Mok – many of us are able to WALK to and from one of the affected stores. The prices at Admiral Safeway are far cheaper than at Met Market and PCC is very pricey.

K July 10, 2024 (10:35 am)

This! I hoove it to the grocery store as often as possible. I use coupons and apps to save money (adding up to thousands of $$$). I know where-to-get-what based on factors like taste, price, and quality. I recognize the people who work there. Losing the Safeway nearest me would be a huge pain and could even tip a decision to live elsewhere.

Skipalapondo July 10, 2024 (1:21 am)

I’m a simple man, my idea of a perfect home in Seattle is an apartment right over the Junction QFC. Even before the light rail addition, it’s a few stops away from downtown on the C Line, plus the fact that I’d be living over a grocery store and a block from the Farmer’s Market means I’d never have to worry about picking up food on the way to/from work. That’s been my dream ever since I moved into a microstudio right off the Bridge, so I feel personally if wishfully invested in news about any potential changes. I’m very thankful to the Blog for keeping us updated on national issues with local impacts like this. I also agree with a lot of commenters that despite ownership changes there will likely still be a supermarket in that space, with myriad alternatives even if it closes, but I’m a creature of habit and using my parents’ old home phone number at QFC sends fuel points back to my mom at home so I’d like to see the merger blocked if only for selfish reasons. The fact that it would help prevent monopoly conglomeration is just icing on the cake.

Alkibean July 10, 2024 (7:46 am)

**Hugs!** loved your comment!

aa July 10, 2024 (7:01 am)

Seems a waste of time to get upset about something we are completely powerless over. You can’t change what will happen any more than you can reduce the temps outside!

Derek July 10, 2024 (7:35 am)

I don’t care about anything else other than what does this mean for the workers? It’s just a sign change to me aesthetically. Is Piggly Wiggly union like Safeway was or…?

anonyme July 10, 2024 (7:35 am)

Just block the damn merger.

sniffy July 10, 2024 (12:02 pm)

this is too bad. all the folks who’ve worked there and are journeymen will lose their seniority

Grocery Lady July 11, 2024 (8:09 am)

I’ve been with QFC for 35 years. This will be the 3rd time we’ve been bought. First time Fred Meyer, 2nd time Kroger, now this.Working for Kroger has become horrible! I’m hopeful that if and when this merger goes through, and we are bought ,that we return to being a store dedicated to customer service.

555greatwhite July 11, 2024 (8:49 am)

C&S will be acquiring all the QFC’s. Because of this they cannot acquire the Jefferson Square Safeway directly across the street from a QFC. Also, hourly employees will remain in the same union and receive their same pay scales. No stores are slated to close, just rebanner.