From Walgreens to Safeway, major retail chains are closing stores in 2026 as they cut costs, eliminate underperforming locations and rethink their footprints.
Parent company Albertsons is reviewing its nationwide store network and closing locations where leases are expiring or where the company believes it can get a better return by investing elsewhere. The company has emphasized that it is simultaneously opening stores in markets with stronger long-term potential.
The shift accelerated after the proposed $24.6 billion Albertsons-Kroger merger collapsed. The deal was blocked by a federal judge in 2024 and ultimately abandoned, ending a period in which Albertsons had slowed its efforts to optimize its physical footprint.
Since then, the company
has resumed evaluating individual stores and properties. Importantly, Albertsons has not announced a specific number of Safeway stores it planned to close in 2026.
Here’s which Safeways are closing and whether Arizona is on the list.
Why is Safeway closing so many stores?
Safeway’s 2026 closures are part of a broader effort by parent company Albertsons Companies to streamline its store network, rather than abandoning the grocery business altogether.
Albertsons operated 2,244 stores under 22 banners, including Safeway, Vons, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and others. The company says its strategy is to open stores where it sees strong long-term demand while closing locations where it believes resources can be better deployed elsewhere.
Which Safeway locations are closing?
So far, confirmed 2026 Safeway closures include stores in Hayward, California, Washington, D.C., and Newport, Oregon. A South San Francisco location is also closing as Safeway relocates the operation to another nearby site.
For now, there is no confirmed 2026 Arizona Safeway closure in the reported list. Safeway still has about 108 Arizona locations, according to its store locator.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Safeway is closing some US stores. Are any Arizona stores affected?
