Kent mayor says Fred Meyer exit was long time coming, but leaves families without easy access

A total of five Fred Meyer stores are closing in western Washington, including one in Kent.

Earlier this week, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph released a statement on the closures, saying she was “angry, frustrated, and sad” about the impact the shuttering of her local Fred Meyer would have on the community.

Although she was displeased by the closure, she wanted to make it clear that her office understands the reason behind the decision.

“It’s a business decision on the part of a for-profit corporation. It is based on crime concerns. It’s based on the fact that the merger that they attempted was denied, and the fact that the model for shopping has just changed significantly, not only just across our region, but across the country. So I think there’s a lot more nuance to it than just being upset with Fred Meyer,” Ralph said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio Friday.

Kent leaders have been in conversation with Fred Meyer over its business model and crime concerns, according to Ralph.

“Over the last couple of years, the City of Kent has been advocating with the legislature for several sessions around support for public safety funding, and Fred Meyer was one of our local businesses that showed up in support of the City of Kent,” she said.

Data shows crime surrounding Kent Fred Meyer declining

Crime in the area surrounding the Fred Meyer in Kent, located on S.E. 240th Street, has actually decreased, according to Ralph, citing police department data.

“We’re back to about pre-COVID levels,” she shared. “So we absolutely saw a spike in 2022, 2023, and then as 2024 and 2025 are unfolding, we’re seeing back to that probably 2019 level.”

Ralph acknowledged there are crime issues, but said Kroger’s decision to shut down the store was thought out long-term.

“That progress that we’ve been making has not probably played as much of a role in their decision as I would have hoped,” she added.

Ralph also mentioned that if stores don’t report crime, the city can’t respond.

“We hear it from retailers all the time, ‘It’s a waste of our time.’ Well, if we don’t know, how can we come and make an arrest? How can we stop the crime?” she said.

Fred Meyer closure hurts low-income families

As Kroger continues to withdraw from various King County communities, Ralph worries about low-income families.

“My primary and initial concern was we now have a neighborhood, that is a lower-income neighborhood, that no longer has that direct access to a grocery store, to prescriptions, to diapers and formula within walking distance or on transit routes,” she shared.

Kent mayor continues fight against crime

Regarding the role theft played in the store closures, Ralph will continue to fight against crime, outlining how softer enforcement can have consequences.

“There’s this belief that you can’t have compassion and accountability,” Ralph remarked. “There’s a belief that we shouldn’t be treating crime as crime, that there’s always an additional reason for it — and I’m not saying that people aren’t motivated by different things and we don’t need to take care of them — but we also can’t say it’s OK.

“Until we change the mindset and get to the place where we’re holding people with substance abuse disorders accountable to either seek treatment or stop committing crimes — that’s compassion, not letting people kill themselves is compassion,” Ralph continued. “We have to normalize that conversation. And it continues to be an uphill battle, but in my mind, it’s one that’s worth fighting because we care enough about people to save them from themselves.”

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.