Safeway store closures are once again attracting attention in 2026 as the supermarket chain continues to reduce or restructure parts of its store network.
Safeway is one of the major grocery banners operated by Albertsons Companies, and several Safeway locations have closed or been scheduled for closure during 2026. The closures are part of broader changes affecting Albertsons’ portfolio, which also includes brands such as Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Acme and other supermarket banners.
The latest developments have led shoppers to search for information about Safeway 2026 store closures, including which stores are closing, when they are closing and whether the company is planning a much larger shutdown.
However, the available information does not indicate that Safeway is going out of business nationwide.
Is Safeway Closing Stores in 2026?
Yes. Several Safeway stores have closed or have been announced for closure in 2026.
One of the most notable closures occurred in Washington, D.C., where the Safeway at Hechinger Mall permanently closed on May 16, 2026 after operating for more than four decades. Its pharmacy closed earlier, on April 1.
The D.C. closure is part of a broader pattern affecting Albertsons-owned grocery stores.
A June 2026 analysis reported that at least a dozen locations across Albertsons’ portfolio had either closed or been marked for closure during the year, including stores operating under the Safeway banner.
Safeway Is Not Closing All Stores
Despite headlines and social-media posts suggesting a much larger shutdown, Safeway continues to operate hundreds of supermarkets.
The company remains an important grocery retailer in several western and other U.S. markets.
The current closures are better understood as individual store closures and portfolio adjustments, rather than a nationwide decision to eliminate the Safeway brand.
This distinction matters because searches for “Safeway closing stores 2026” can sometimes produce headlines that make the situation appear broader than the confirmed closures actually are.
The Hechinger Mall Safeway Closure
The Hechinger Mall Safeway in Northeast Washington, D.C., became one of the most prominent Safeway closures of 2026.
The store had operated at the location for more than 40 years before permanently shutting its doors on May 16.
The pharmacy closed earlier in the spring, with the grocery operation continuing until the final closure date.
The closure affected local shoppers who had relied on the store for groceries and pharmacy services.
Local reporting described the store’s departure as the end of a long-standing neighborhood presence.
Why Is Albertsons Closing Stores?
There is no single reason behind every Albertsons or Safeway closure.
Store performance, changing shopping patterns, operating costs, leases, competition and broader strategic decisions can all affect whether a supermarket remains open.
Albertsons has been evaluating its physical store network following the collapse of its proposed merger with Kroger.
The $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger was abandoned after significant regulatory and legal opposition. Following the failed merger, Albertsons began making additional changes to its operations, including store closures and job reductions.
The company has said it is focused on improving operations and finding savings that can be reinvested into the business.
The Failed Kroger Merger Changed the Retail Landscape
Albertsons and Kroger announced their proposed merger in 2022.
The deal would have created one of the largest grocery companies in the United States.
However, regulators and several states raised concerns about competition, prices and potential store closures.
The proposed transaction ultimately failed, leaving Albertsons to operate independently and reassess its business strategy.
That has contributed to increased attention on store performance and the company’s overall footprint.
Safeway, as one of Albertsons’ major banners, has been affected by these broader corporate decisions.
How Many Safeway Stores Are Closing?
There is no single official nationwide list showing that hundreds of Safeway stores are scheduled to close in 2026.
Instead, closures have been announced individually or as part of broader Albertsons portfolio changes.
A June analysis found that at least a dozen locations across Albertsons’ different supermarket banners had closed or been identified for closure during 2026. Those closures included Safeway locations as well as stores operating under other Albertsons-owned brands.
This means shoppers should be careful with social-media lists claiming that every Safeway store in a particular state is closing.
The most reliable information comes from Safeway, Albertsons Companies, local news organizations and official store listings.
Safeway Closures Are Not Limited to One State
The broader Albertsons store-closure activity has affected multiple states.
Reports have identified closures across Albertsons’ portfolio in places including California, Texas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Nevada and Washington, D.C.
However, not every closure in these states is a Safeway.
Albertsons Companies operates several different supermarket banners, so headlines about “Albertsons store closures” can include stores that do not carry the Safeway name.
Consumers should therefore check the specific store name and address before assuming that a Safeway location is affected.
What About the Safeway Stores in California?
California has experienced a significant amount of store-closure activity across the Albertsons portfolio.
However, some reports combine Safeway, Albertsons and Vons locations when discussing closures.
This can make it difficult for consumers to determine whether their local Safeway is actually scheduled to close.
A Safeway store should not be considered part of the closure program simply because another Albertsons-owned supermarket in the same state is shutting down.
Individual locations must be confirmed separately.
What About Safeway Stores in Washington?
Washington remains an important Safeway market.
The closure of the Hechinger Mall location in Washington, D.C., received substantial attention in 2026, but Washington state is a separate market and should not be confused with Washington, D.C.
Safeway continues to operate stores in Washington state.
In fact, retail industry discussions have also identified planned Safeway expansion in some areas, demonstrating that the company is not simply closing every location.
A Safeway store planned for the Ten Trails development in Black Diamond, Washington, was reported as targeting an opening in the fourth quarter of 2026.
This illustrates that Safeway’s strategy includes both closures and investment in selected markets.
Are More Safeway Stores Expected to Close?
Additional closures are possible.
Albertsons has been reviewing its store portfolio and has continued making changes during 2026.
However, it would be inaccurate to claim that a specific number of additional Safeway stores will close unless the company or reliable local reporting confirms those locations.
The grocery industry remains highly competitive.
Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and other retailers continue competing for shoppers, while inflation, labor costs, real-estate expenses and changing consumer behavior put pressure on supermarket operators.
Underperforming stores may therefore be more likely to face closure when leases expire or when companies determine that a location is no longer financially sustainable.
What Happens to Employees When a Safeway Store Closes?
The impact on employees depends on the individual closure.
Workers may be offered opportunities to transfer to other stores, while others may be affected by layoffs or changes in staffing.
The specific arrangements vary by location and employment agreement.
Because Albertsons operates a large network of stores, employees at a closing location may have opportunities to move to another nearby store depending on available positions.
Will Safeway Go Out of Business?
There is currently no indication that Safeway is going out of business nationwide.
The company continues to operate stores and invest in selected locations.
The presence of new-store development alongside individual closures demonstrates that the strategy is more complicated than simply eliminating the Safeway brand.
Instead, Albertsons appears to be adjusting its store footprint by closing some locations while continuing to operate and invest in others.
Why Are Grocery Stores Closing in 2026?
Safeway’s closures are part of a broader trend affecting the U.S. grocery industry.
Supermarkets face several challenges, including:
- High operating expenses
- Labor costs
- Competition from discount retailers
- Changing consumer shopping habits
- Online grocery shopping
- Expiring leases
- Lower-performing locations
- Pressure to keep prices competitive
Large grocery companies have to constantly evaluate whether individual stores generate enough sales to justify their costs.
A store may therefore close even when the overall company remains profitable.
What Should Safeway Customers Do?
If you regularly shop at Safeway, the best approach is to check the status of your local store rather than relying on general headlines.
Customers should look for official announcements concerning:
- Store closing dates
- Pharmacy closures
- Changes to store hours
- Employee transfers
- Nearby replacement locations
- New stores opening in the area
Shoppers should also remember that a store closing does not necessarily mean Safeway is leaving the entire market.
In many cases, another Safeway location may remain nearby.
The Future of Safeway
Safeway’s future in 2026 appears to involve a combination of consolidation, investment and selective closures.
Some locations are being removed from the company’s network, particularly where operating conditions or store performance do not justify continued investment.
At the same time, the company continues operating a large supermarket network and has plans for new locations in certain markets.
The grocery business is changing rapidly, and retailers are increasingly focused on improving efficiency while concentrating resources on their strongest stores.
Final Thoughts
The Safeway 2026 store closures are part of broader changes taking place across Albertsons Companies.
Several Safeway locations have closed or been scheduled for closure, with the Hechinger Mall store in Washington, D.C., being one of the most prominent examples. That location permanently closed on May 16, 2026, following more than 40 years of operation.
Other closures have occurred across Albertsons’ supermarket portfolio, including brands such as Safeway, Vons, Acme and Albertsons. A June analysis found at least a dozen Albertsons-owned locations had closed or been marked for closure during 2026.
However, Safeway is not shutting down nationwide.
The company continues to operate stores and is also pursuing new locations in some markets. The current situation is better described as a strategic reshaping of the supermarket network rather than the end of Safeway.
For shoppers concerned about a particular store, the most important thing is to verify that specific location’s status through Safeway or reliable local reporting rather than relying on generalized online closure lists.