FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 22, 2024
Contact: Mayor’s Press Office, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org
***PRESS RELEASE***
MAYOR BREED ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT REACHED TO EXTEND SERVICES AT SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE IN THE FILLMORE
Originally announced to permanently close in March, the Fillmore Safeway,
which has served thousands of customers for decades, will remain open through early 2025.
San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today announced the City and Safeway reached an agreement to extend services at the Webster Street Safeway until early next year. The unprecedented decision is a result of Mayor Breed leading extensive discussions with Safeway and the site’s new owner, Align Real Estate, 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.
Located in the Fillmore neighborhood, the grocery store provides a range of essential services to senior citizens and families, including prescription fulfillment, grocery services, and banking. The Fillmore’s Safeway has played a central role in helping build and bring community together, especially among senior citizens.
Safeway’s re-evaluation will allow more time for the City and the site’s new owner to work with the community and customers to consider plans for the new site where the grocery store is currently located. The Mayor has already began engaging with Safeway and the new owner to explore a range of implementations, including new housing and bringing a new grocery store to replace the current Safeway.
“The Webster Street Safeway is more than a grocery store - it serves as a space that brings together and builds community for the Fillmore neighborhood, which is home to many senior citizens and families. I am pleased to share we have come to an agreement that extends services at this Safeway location until next year,” said Mayor London Breed. “I appreciate Safeway for being a good community partner to San Francisco, and their willingness to engage in a collaborative discussion to lift up this neighborhood’s needs now and in the future. I also want to thank Safeway for continuing investments across their San Francisco stores by updating and improving experiences for our residents.”
On January 4, 2024, Safeway announced the closure of this Webster Street Safeway location after the company reached an agreement to sell the site, known as Webster Plaza, to Align Real Estate, with plans to build a mixed-use development to include housing and commercial space.
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.
“We have decided to extend the closing date to January 2025 to give the community and the City more time to establish a transition plan,” Safeway said in a statement. “Beyond the closure, we will continue to serve this community with our grocery delivery services and will work with our customers to transfer their prescriptions to another Safeway location or a location of their choice. We remain committed to serving San Francisco at our remaining 15 locations.”
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