Fillmore Safeway closure prompts community outrage
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A Safeway grocery store in pictured in San Francisco. Photo: Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Droves of frustrated residents from San Francisco's Fillmore district appeared at City Hall on Monday to voice their concerns over the closure of the neighborhood's biggest grocery store.
Why it matters: The Safeway at 1355 Webster Street will officially close on Feb.7 after serving the area for more than 40 years, leaving many residents with few options to get groceries in their neighborhood.
Driving the news: District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Fillmore, called for the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation committee to hold a public hearing addressing residents' concerns while the city identifies short-term solutions. It's the first one held since the closure was announced, he said.
- "It's clear the loss of the Safeway is being felt deeply throughout the neighboring communities. The impact of the closure in the community cannot be understated," Mahmood said.
The big picture: The store's shutdown has sparked outrage in the historically Black neighborhood — especially among residents who are disabled, low-income and live in nearby senior facilities.
Between the lines: The chain's decision has sparked fears that the neighborhood will be left in a food desert, defined as areas with limited access to healthy food sources.
- When grocery stores close, it may take a long time to replace them, leaving residents with less healthy alternatives such as fast-food joints and convenience stores.
By the numbers: The closure is expected to affect food and pharmacy access for 34,000 residents, including 4,000 in the Western Addition with incomes 100% below the federal poverty line, according to the city's Food and Security Task Force.
- The Western Addition has a high rate of food insecurity, with 1 in 6 residents being considered critically low-income, according to the city.
What they're saying: Paul Osaki, a neighborhood resident and executive director at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, noted Safeway initially landed in the neighborhood as part of a deal with the city during the era of urban renewal. He said he feels the community's needs have yet again been sidelined.
- "I'm tired of having to come to these hearings and beg and plead to save our communities," he said. "This has gone on way too long. And this is just pissing me off."
Catch up quick: The store initially announced plans to close the location last year due to public safety and theft concerns.
- Since then, the developer Align Real Estate had struck a deal to purchase the lot in order to build a mixed-use complex with 1,000 units of housing and a ground-level commercial space, though plans for a potential tenant have not been announced.
What's next: City officials are working on ensuring that any new housing development on the site includes a full-service grocery store.
- In the meantime, the city is also planning on hosting food giveaways, connecting residents to free shuttles for groceries, banking and other services, and identifying new strategies to attract more food-oriented businesses.
- The city is hosting a public workshop on Feb. 24 to connect affected residents to resources.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to show the Feb. 24 event is a public workshop.