Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC, has announced the closure of two additional Fred Meyer locations in Lake City and Redmond this October. These closures follow earlier announcements regarding stores in Kent, Everett, Tacoma, and Mill Creek, bringing the total number of affected locations in Western Washington to six.
The Lake City store at 13000 Lake City Way NE will close on October 17, while the Redmond store at 17667 NE 76th St will close on October 18. A total of 343 employees are impacted, though Kroger has stated that all affected staff will be offered opportunities at other stores.
According to Kroger, the decision was influenced by rising theft and what the company described as a challenging regulatory environment. The closures are part of a broader national plan to close 60 stores over the next 18 months.
Local lawmakers have been pressing Kroger to reconsider its decision, particularly in Lake City, where residents have limited access to full-service grocery options. Seattle-area legislators, including state Rep. Darya Farivar and City Councilmember Debora Juarez, met with Kroger officials last week to explore alternatives such as maintaining only the grocery section of the store. While Kroger has agreed to continue discussions, it has offered no assurances and has also signaled interest in redeveloping or selling the Lake City property, assessed at $25 million.
Despite the closures, Kroger reported $45.1 billion in Q1 2025 sales, with notable growth in e-commerce. More details can be found in the company’s Q1 2025 earnings report.
