Tacoma Fred Meyer closure sparks community outrage
Aug 6, 2025, 5:01 AM
The front of a Fred Meyer store as more locations close in Washington. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
A week after Fred Meyer announced plans to close its South End Tacoma location, the union representing the store’s workers is raising concerns about the decision’s broader impact on both employees and the surrounding community.
In a statement released July 31, UFCW Local 367 said the closure of the store at 7250 Pacific Avenue “raises serious questions about corporate responsibility,” according to The Tacoma News Tribune.
RELATED STORIES
Union, community push back as Tacoma Fred Meyer closure looms
The closure will disproportionately affect low-income seniors and working families who rely on walking or public transit to reach the store, according to the union. Meanwhile, a petition on Change.org urging Kroger to reconsider the closure has gathered nearly 1,700 signatures.
Fred Meyer confirmed it will permanently shut down the South End Tacoma store, with the earliest closure date set for September 27. In an early statement from July 23, Fred Meyer attributed the closure to a broader strategy aimed at improving efficiency and ensuring long-term business health.
The closure follows continued fallout from the failed Kroger-Albertsons merger attempt earlier this year, which is still the subject of ongoing litigation.
Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest
