Fred Meyer plans to close its Marketplace location at James Center, 6901 S. 19th St. in Tacoma’s West End, marking the second Tacoma store closure for the grocery chain in two years.
Parent company Kroger declined to renew the store’s building lease amid higher rental costs. The closure also comes as Kroger addresses rising retail theft and pursues a broader strategy to streamline operations and reduce underperforming or higher-cost locations.
Fred Meyer confirmed the closure but did not provide a specific closing date. The company said it remains committed to serving Tacoma-area customers through nearby Fred Meyer and QFC locations.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, which represents Kroger employees, said it will bargain over the impact of the closure and support affected workers. According to the union, the store is expected to continue operating through the current lease expiration on Jan. 30, 2027.
The James Center shopping center was sold in March 2025 for $36.75 million to an LLC affiliated with Bellevue-based commercial real estate firm Rosen Harbottle.
Other nearby locations include Fred Meyer’s Tacoma Stevens store, QFC Parkland, Fred Meyer in University Place, and QFC on 49th Avenue NE in Tacoma. A Fred Meyer Marketplace also remains in Gig Harbor.
The closure follows the September 2025 shutdown of Fred Meyer’s longtime South End Tacoma store at 7250 Pacific Ave.
