Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC, has announced the upcoming closure of two of its grocery store locations in western Washington. The Fred Meyer on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma will remain open through late September, while a QFC store in Mill Creek is set to close on September 3, affecting 76 employees. A Kroger spokesperson said the decision is part of broader efforts to operate more efficiently and support long-term business health. Impacted staff will have opportunities to transfer to other locations.
Local leaders are responding to the closures with a mix of concern and planning. In Tacoma, Councilmember Joe Bushnell noted the city’s Community and Economic Development Department is already working with property owners to explore future uses for the prime commercial space.
In Seattle, concerns continue to grow over the stability of neighborhood grocery stores. City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth highlighted ongoing safety and security challenges, including loitering and shoplifting, which she says are putting two QFC locations on Broadway at risk. “During my tenure we’ve lost two grocery stores in my district. I don’t want to lose another one,” she said, referencing the recent closures of a Whole Foods and another local grocer.
