Sup. Preston Letter re Webster Street Safeway
Wendy Gutshall
Director, Public and Government Affairs
Safeway - Northern California Division
5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588
RE: Webster Street Safeway in the Fillmore
Dear Ms. Gutshall:
Our office received your email on Thursday, January 4, 2023, that Safeway intends to close the Webster Street grocery store “on or around early March. “ We are extremely concerned with the potential loss of this grocery store in the heart of the Fillmore, and especially the possibility of losing it as soon as March. This is an essential site for neighbors to buy groceries, and to access a pharmacy and banking services. Closure, especially on less than 60 days notice, would impose severe hardship, particularly on seniors who rely on this store. I have spoken with over a hundred constituents about this since your announcement and they are uniform in their strong objection to the closure of this store in March.
I am writing to request that you withdraw this plan to close in March, and work with all stakeholders to develop a plan that avoids harming this community by an abrupt closure of this grocery store that has been an essential part of the Fillmore for over 40 years.
I thank you for your prompt response last week to our request for a meeting, and I hope we can get that meeting on the calendar this week. In the meantime, I request the following information:
When did Safeway decide to close this store?
What is the current status of the sale of this property?
Is Safeway willing to withdraw its announcement of a March store closure?
In addition, community members have expressed a strong desire for Safeway and the buyer to come before the community, share information, answer questions, and hear the community's perspective. Please confirm whether Safeway will participate in such a community meeting.
I see no reason that potential future development should result in this store closing abruptly in March, after which the lot would likely sit vacant for an extended period of time. In addition, it is my hope that a new grocery store will be included in any future development at the site.
We look forward to hearing your perspective and discussing this urgent matter. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Dean Preston
District 5 Supervisor
CC: Director Rich Hillis, Planning Department
Director Sarah Dennis Phillips, Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Sheila Nickolopoulos, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development
Align Real Estate, c/o Andrew Junius, Esq., Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP