Fillmore Safeway Announces Plan to Stay Open following Pressure from Community Members and Elected Leaders

On the eve of a vote Supervisor Dean Preston’s resolution demanding Safeway reconsider and reverse its plan to close the Fillmore’s only full service grocery store in March, Safeway officials announced that they would stay open until January 2025.
“As soon as we heard Safeway’s announcement to close in less than 60 days, we said clearly, and unequivocally – not here, not now,” said Supervisor Dean Preston. “I am thankful that Safeway has listened to the hundreds of community members who demanded they reverse plans to close a critical location to so many of our vulnerable community members.”
On January 4th, Safeway announced the closure of their Webster Street location, shocking and outraging the Fillmore and Japantown communities that rely on this store for food, the pharmacy, and the banking services on site. Supervisor Preston immediately wrote a letter to Safeway officials , demanding that they withdraw plans to close in March, and work with all stakeholders to hold a community meeting. Preston then introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors on January 8, scheduled to be voted on by the full board tomorrow, Tuesday, January 23, to be preceded by a rally at Safeway on Tuesday morning with community members, neighborhood leaders, and Board President Aaron Peskin, and Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Shamann Walton.
“Safeway’s decision here is an important first step to making sure plans for this site do not harm the community,” said Supervisor Preston. “We urge Safeway and any buyer to work collaboratively with community members and city leaders on a real plan for this important site in the heart of the Fillmore.”