The Full List of Safeway Store Closures in 2026 (Updated Weekly)

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Table of Contents

• Current Safeway Store Closures List 2026
• Hayward, California Safeway Closure
• Newport, Oregon Safeway Closure
• Hechinger Mall Safeway Closure in Washington, D.C.
• Safeway Store Closures by State
• Why Is Safeway Closing Stores?
• Why Lease Expiration Matters
• Albertsons Store Network and Safeway
• How to Check Safeway Locations Closing Near Me
• Is Safeway Leaving the Western U.S.?
• How This Store Closure Tracker Works
• What Closures Mean for Shoppers and Workers
• What to Expect for the Rest of 2026
• Technical Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions

Current Safeway Store Closures List 2026

If you are searching for the safeway store closures list 2026, the most important point is that Safeway does not publish one permanent nationwide list that covers every closure for the entire year.

Closure information usually appears at the local level first. A company statement, employee notice, lease decision, local news report, or government filing can reveal that a particular store will close.

That makes a live tracker more useful than a static list.

As of August 17, 2026, the most clearly documented Safeway closures in this tracker are in California, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. The locations are different, but the reasons show a common pattern: Albertsons is reviewing individual properties and deciding where its resources can produce better long-term returns.

That does not mean Safeway is abandoning these states.

It also does not mean every older store is at risk.

In fact, Albertsons continues to operate a large national network. Its latest annual filing says the company operated 2,244 stores across 35 states and Washington, D.C. as of February 28, 2026. Safeway is one of the company's major banners.

This distinction matters because a few store closures can attract large amounts of search interest while the wider business continues to operate hundreds of locations under the Safeway name.

Hayward, California Safeway Closure

The Hayward closure is one of the most important entries in the updated list Safeway closures 2026 because it shows how a lease decision can lead to a store shutdown without a broader market exit.

The Safeway at 231 West Jackson Street in Hayward was scheduled to close in February 2026.

Reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle said Safeway described the decision as being tied to the end of the store's lease term. The company said it had considered its options and decided to shift its strategy. The same report said the store had 76 employees and that Safeway expected to transfer them to nearby locations rather than plan layoffs.

That detail is important.

A supermarket can close while the parent company continues to invest in the same city or region. If another Safeway remains nearby, customers can continue using the brand even after one location disappears.

Safeway's current Hayward store directory lists a location at 22280 Foothill Blvd., showing that the company still has a Hayward presence after the Jackson Street closure.

What the Hayward Closure Tells Us

The Hayward case supports a wider theme in grocery retail.

Store closures are not always caused by weak demand alone. A lease can reach its end at exactly the point when management must decide whether to invest more money into an older location.

If the property requires major repairs, a remodel, higher rent, or a different store format, renewing the lease may not be the best choice.

Management can instead move staff and customer demand toward another nearby store.

For investors, this can be a form of network optimization. For shoppers, however, it can mean a longer trip or less convenient access.

Newport, Oregon Safeway Closure

The Newport, Oregon closure is another major entry in the tracker.

The Safeway at 2220 North Coast Highway in Newport was scheduled to close on July 26, 2026.

A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing reported that 69 Safeway employees would be affected by the closure. The filing covered a range of positions, including clerks, pharmacy workers, meat cutters, and other store roles. Some workers could continue working during the shutdown process, while others could have opportunities at different Safeway locations.

The Newport situation is different from Hayward because there was no other Safeway store in Newport, according to the reporting on the closure.

That makes the local effect more significant.

When a community loses its only Safeway, customers do not simply switch to another Safeway two miles away. They may need to use another grocery chain, drive farther, shop online, or change their normal routine.

Why the Newport Closure Matters

Newport demonstrates why a national closure tracker should also consider local market conditions.

A company can view a store from a financial perspective. A community may view the same store as essential infrastructure.

For a coastal city with a particular population and tourism pattern, the economics of a large supermarket can be very different from the economics of a store in a major metropolitan area.

The closure also shows why workers and shoppers should pay attention to official notices. A rumor on social media can say a store is closing “soon,” while a formal filing provides a specific date and employment impact.

Hechinger Mall Safeway Closure in Washington, D.C.

The Safeway at Hechinger Mall in Northeast Washington, D.C. closed on May 16, 2026.

The store was located at 1601 Maryland Ave. NE and had served the area for more than four decades.

Local reporting from WTOP said the pharmacy was scheduled to close earlier, on April 1, while the main grocery store was scheduled to close on May 16. Safeway said the company was reaching the end of its lease at the location and had decided to reinvest its resources into other existing stores.

That statement gives readers a direct explanation for the closure.

It was not presented as a decision to leave Washington, D.C. Instead, Safeway pointed to its real-estate portfolio and the end of its lease.

Local reporting also noted that the shopping center had lost another retailer, creating additional concern about the future of the property.

What Happens After the Hechinger Mall Closure?

The next question is what will replace the supermarket.

Local officials and property stakeholders have looked for a replacement grocery operator. That process can take time because a full supermarket needs a large footprint, parking, supply access, refrigeration systems, loading space, and a customer base that supports the investment.

This is why store closures can affect commercial real estate long after the supermarket has left.

Safeway Store Closures by State

Here is the current state-level view of confirmed closures included in this tracker.

This table should be treated as a live editorial tracker, not a statement that no other Safeway location can close later in 2026.

Why Is Safeway Closing Stores?

There is no single reason behind every Safeway closure.

However, lease expiration is a major theme in the confirmed closures reviewed for this article.

That matters because supermarket locations are expensive assets to operate. A store requires rent or property costs, employees, refrigeration, electricity, inventory, security, maintenance, technology, insurance, and regular capital investment.

Management must compare those costs with the store's sales and expected future performance.

A location can still have loyal customers and fail to justify another long lease.

That is especially true when the company believes the same money can generate better returns at another location.

Store Performance

Sales are one of the first factors management considers.

A store with weak traffic, low sales growth, or poor margins may require more investment than it can reasonably generate.

Closing the location can reduce ongoing expenses.

Real Estate Costs

Rent is only one part of the real-estate equation.

A retailer must also consider property taxes, maintenance obligations, remodeling requirements, parking conditions, loading access, building age, and the cost of extending or replacing a lease.

These factors can make two stores with similar sales very different investments.

Competition

Safeway competes with many grocery and retail formats.

Customers can shop at discount supermarkets, warehouse clubs, large general retailers, online platforms, regional chains, and smaller local stores.

A location surrounded by strong competitors may need more price promotions to maintain traffic.

Capital Reallocation

Closing one store can release resources for another.

Those resources can support remodeling, technology, labor, inventory, pricing, digital shopping, or a new store.

That is why a closure should not automatically be interpreted as a company-wide retreat.

Why Lease Expiration Matters in Safeway Store Closures

Lease expiration is one of the most useful concepts for understanding the current closure wave.

When a lease approaches its end, a retailer gets a major decision point.

It can renew.

It can negotiate different terms.

It can remodel.

It can relocate.

Or it can leave.

If the store has become less attractive over time, leaving may be the most practical option.

The Hechinger Mall Safeway provides a clear example. Safeway told WTOP that the company was coming to the end of its lease and chose to reinvest resources elsewhere.

The Hayward closure also involved an ending lease term, according to local reporting.

This is why readers should be careful with claims that every closure proves weak sales or a company crisis. The actual reason can be much more specific.

Albertsons Store Network and Safeway

Safeway is part of a much larger business.

Albertsons Companies operated 22 grocery banners as of February 28, 2026. Its portfolio included Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, Balducci's Food Lovers Market, and other banners.

The company operated 2,244 stores across 35 states and Washington, D.C.

That scale changes how readers should interpret the closure list.

A Safeway store can close while Albertsons continues to expand or invest elsewhere.

It can also close one location and transfer workers to another location in the same market.

For that reason, the right question is not simply, “How many stores closed?”

The better question is, “What is happening to the total store network, and where is the company moving its capital?”

How to Check Safeway Locations Closing Near Me

If you searched for safeway locations closing near me, use a verification process rather than relying on a single search result.

1. Identify the exact store address. Safeway can have several stores in the same city.
2. Check the official Safeway store page. Look for changes in services, hours, or store status.
3. Search local news. Local outlets often report closures before national sites update their lists.
4. Check official employee notices. Employment filings can provide a closure date.
5. Look for a company statement. A direct Albertsons or Safeway statement is stronger evidence than a social-media post.
6. Check the date. Old closure stories can appear in current search results.
7. Verify again before visiting. Store information can change quickly during a closure period.

Safeway's official store locator is particularly useful for checking whether another nearby store remains open.

Is Safeway Leaving the Western U.S.?

No evidence reviewed for this article supports the idea that Safeway is abandoning the Western United States.

The Western U.S. remains one of Safeway's most important operating regions.

The company continues to operate stores across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and other markets.

The closure of a specific store should therefore be treated as a location-level decision unless Albertsons announces a broader market exit.

This distinction is especially important for searchers who see several closure stories in California or other Western states.

A cluster of closures can indicate network optimization without meaning the entire brand is leaving the region.

How This Safeway Store Closure Tracker Works

A useful closure tracker must do more than copy names from other websites.

AurixFinance News uses a simple verification approach.

Confirmed

A location enters the confirmed list when reliable reporting or an official source provides a clear closure announcement or closure date.

Scheduled

A store can be listed as scheduled when the company or a reliable filing gives a future closing date.

Reported

A reported closure may appear in credible local reporting but still require additional confirmation.

Rumored

Rumors are not added to the confirmed table.

This is important because supermarket closure stories spread quickly online. A social post can incorrectly turn a lease negotiation into a confirmed closure.

Our goal is to keep the table useful for people searching for which Safeway stores are closing, while reducing false positives.

What Safeway Closures Mean for Shoppers and Workers

Store closures affect more than a company's income statement.

They can change how a neighborhood gets groceries.

For shoppers, the biggest issue is often distance. A store that was five minutes away may be replaced by a location that requires a longer drive.

That can be difficult for households without reliable transportation.

Older residents may also be affected when a nearby grocery store disappears.

Workers face a different set of questions.

Some closures allow employees to transfer to nearby stores. The Hayward case is an example where reporting said all 76 employees were expected to be reassigned rather than laid off.

Newport was more difficult. A worker notice reported 69 affected employees when that store closed in July.

The difference shows why a national closure count cannot tell the entire story.

Every store has its own labor market, union arrangements, customer base, lease, and nearby store network.

What to Expect for the Rest of 2026

The Safeway closure story is still developing.

Albertsons has a large store network and continues to review individual locations.

That means more closures are possible.

However, it would be misleading to predict that every Safeway store with an older building or expiring lease will close.

Some locations may receive new leases.

Others may be remodeled.

Some may be relocated.

New stores can also offset closures.

The most useful signal will be the company's overall store count and the mix between openings and closures.

Investors should also watch store productivity, customer traffic, digital sales, operating costs, capital spending, and the company's comments about real-estate strategy.

Shoppers should focus on their local market rather than national headlines.

If your local Safeway remains open, there is no reason to assume it is closing simply because another Safeway closed in a different state.

Why This List Will Be Updated Weekly

Search interest around store closures can change quickly.

A closure announced today can become a major local story tomorrow. A future closure date can also change after a lease agreement, property sale, or operational decision.

For that reason, this article is designed as a recurring tracker.

The safeway store closures list 2026 will be updated when credible new closure information becomes available.

Readers should always look at the “Last updated” date near the top of the article.

That date tells you when the tracker was last reviewed.

Closure Verification Checklist

Before adding a Safeway location to a closure tracker, use this checklist:

• [ ] Confirm the exact store address.
• [ ] Confirm that the location is a Safeway-branded store.
• [ ] Find a company statement or reliable local report.
• [ ] Confirm whether the closure is announced, scheduled, or completed.
• [ ] Record the exact closure date when available.
• [ ] Identify the stated reason without guessing.
• [ ] Check whether a lease expiration is specifically mentioned.
• [ ] Check whether employees will transfer or face layoffs.
• [ ] Check whether another Safeway remains nearby.
• [ ] Add the date the information was verified.
• [ ] Recheck the location before the weekly update.

Technical Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions About Safeway Store Closures 2026

1. Is my local Safeway closing?

There is no nationwide rule that all Safeway stores are closing. The best way to determine whether your local store is affected is to check the exact store address, the official Safeway store information, local news, and any direct Albertsons or Safeway announcement. A closure in another city does not mean your local store is scheduled to close.

2. Which Safeway stores are closing in 2026?

The current tracker includes the Safeway at 231 West Jackson Street in Hayward, California, which closed in February; the Safeway at 1601 Maryland Ave. NE in Washington, D.C., which closed May 16; and the Safeway at 2220 North Coast Highway in Newport, Oregon, which closed July 26. The list can change as additional locations are confirmed.

3. Why is Safeway closing stores in 2026?

Several factors can influence a closure, but lease decisions are especially important in the confirmed cases covered here. Safeway said the Hechinger Mall store was reaching the end of its lease and that the company chose to reinvest resources elsewhere. The Hayward closure was also linked to the end of its lease term. Store economics, local competition, operating costs, property conditions, and future market potential can also influence decisions.

4. Is Safeway leaving California, Oregon, or Washington, D.C.?

No. The closure of an individual store does not prove that Safeway is leaving an entire state or market. Albertsons continues to operate a large network under the Safeway and other banners. For example, Safeway continues to list a Hayward store at 22280 Foothill Blvd. after the Jackson Street location closed.

5. Will more Safeway stores close in 2026?

More closures are possible because Albertsons continues to manage a large physical store network and can review leases and store economics. However, it would be inaccurate to say that every Safeway location is expected to close. The strongest evidence for a future closure is an official announcement, a reliable local report, a formal worker notice, or another direct source that identifies the store and date.

Final Takeaway

The safeway store closures list 2026 is not a story about Safeway disappearing.

It is a story about how a large supermarket company manages thousands of physical locations in a changing retail market.

Hayward, Newport, and Hechinger Mall show three important parts of the story. Lease terms can drive decisions. Employee impacts can vary by location. And a store can close even while the wider Safeway network remains active.

Albertsons operated 2,244 stores across 35 states and Washington, D.C. as of February 28, 2026.

That means readers should avoid broad claims based on a handful of closures.

If you want to know whether a particular Safeway is closing, start with the exact address. Then verify the information through official company sources and reliable local reporting.

This tracker will continue to separate confirmed closures from rumors and update the list as new information becomes available.

AurixFinance News will continue monitoring the Safeway store closure story, Albertsons' store network, retail real-estate decisions, and broader grocery industry changes.

Authoritative Sources

Albertsons Companies 2026 Annual Report — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

WTOP — Safeway Hechinger Mall closure

San Francisco Chronicle — Hayward Safeway closure

KOIN — Newport Safeway closure and worker notice