Safeway set to close store serving San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf area

SAN FRANCISCO — With the Safeway on the border of North Seashore and Fisherman’s Wharf closing its doorways, native residents’ journeys to the grocery retailer will quickly look lots totally different.

“Now, I’ve bought to spend cash to go elsewhere to buy,” Shepard Sanders stated. He is used to having the ability to stroll to the grocery retailer.

“It may be robust,” he stated. “Now, I am going to should catch the bus to Market Road or catch the bus all the way down to the Embarcadero simply to buy.”

Despite the fact that there are different grocery choices across the neighborhood, Sanders says he likes to buy at Safeway due to their costs.

“Now I’ve gotta spend an additional greenback or two to go some other place to buy,” he stated.

The grocery retailer positioned at 350 Bay St. has been part of the group for many years. Danny Sauter, with North Seashore Neighbors, says Sanders’ issues are shared by many others within the space.

“It is about 20,000 residents inside a half mile of the shop. For these households, for these seniors, it will be harder to get inexpensive groceries abruptly,” Sauter stated. “For residents within the neighborhood, significantly for the tons of of models of low-income housing throughout the road, it is a large drawback.”

Not like some retailer closures in San Francisco, Safeway doesn’t attribute this explicit closure to crime.

A spokesperson offered KPIX with the next assertion:

“Safeway not too long ago introduced that its Bay Road location will shut round Might 27. All associates may have the choice to switch to one in every of our surrounding shops. Safeway has been a proud member of the Fisherman’s Wharf group for many years, and the choice to shut this retailer is not one we made evenly. We constantly consider the efficiency of our shops, and infrequently it is necessary to shut places that are not assembly monetary expectations.  We stay dedicated to serving San Francisco at our remaining 16 places.”

Sauter says the realm surrounding the Safeway has struggled in recent times with vacancies and this closure will not assist repair the scenario.

“That is going to go away a giant gap within the neighborhood,” Sauter stated. “It may make it harder for all of these different companies that will have relied upon that foot site visitors from folks going to or from Safeway. So it actually has compounding results.”

Nevertheless, he says, the group is mobilizing within the hopes of bringing in a brand new grocery retailer.

“As a result of that is such a giant deal, North Seashore Neighbors is launching a petition to usher in one other inexpensive grocery retailer,” he stated.

The grocery retailer is positioned in Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s district.

“It has actually been the go-to spot for folks on fastened incomes in addition to vacationers within the Fisherman’s Wharf space. My coronary heart actually goes out to them,” Peskin stated. “I’ve heard from loads of my constituents who dwell on fastened incomes and that’s the inexpensive grocery choice on this a part of city — significantly for individuals who stroll or use public transit. So yeah, it’s of deep concern.”

Peskin says he has been in conversations with potential inexpensive grocery retailers which are contemplating the area.

“I’ve made it very clear to the events, the owner and the potential occupant that I’m very excited about serving to safe that for the advantage of my constituents,” Peskin stated.

From the surface wanting in, Sanders says, a grocery retailer closing could not appear to be that large a deal. However, for many who dwell within the space and have constructed routines round having it there, it’s going to have an effect on their day by day lives.

“This is essential as a result of it helps us and helps folks like me to buy and ensure I get my groceries as an alternative of going approach out of my option to different locations to buy. It does matter,” Sanders stated.