Safeway’s Fillmore store near major San Francisco campuses will close, raising access and policy questions
A longtime supermarket is set to shut its doors in the Fillmore
A major grocery store in San Francisco’s Fillmore District is scheduled to close in early February 2025, ending more than four decades of operation and intensifying concerns about nearby access to food and pharmacy services. The store, located at 1335 Webster St., has served residents across the Western Addition and adjacent neighborhoods, including many who rely on walking, transit, or paratransit options.
The operator has confirmed the location will close on or around Feb. 7, 2025. The company has attributed the decision to ongoing safety concerns for customers and workers, alongside persistent theft problems. It has also indicated it will continue serving the city through other locations.
Pharmacy service changes and the immediate impact
City materials prepared for public meetings show the store had already shifted to limited pharmacy-only hours on weekdays during the final weeks ahead of the full shutdown. The same materials list Feb. 6, 2025, as the date the pharmacy would close, and state that no layoffs are planned in connection with the closure.
Community concern has centered on practical day-to-day consequences: additional travel time and transportation costs for groceries and prescriptions, and reduced options for residents who have mobility challenges or fixed incomes.
What happens to the property next
The site is privately owned, with city records also noting an easement into the parking lot held by the city. Public documents describe a pending sale to a developer and refer to expectations of a mixed-use project. As of early 2025, city materials indicate that no development plans or proposals had been received for review.
In parallel, local officials have discussed possible public-sector intervention, including the idea of acquiring the property to support continued grocery service alongside housing. No final outcome has been publicly established.
Policy response: San Francisco moves to require more notice before supermarket closures
The closure has unfolded alongside a broader push at City Hall to change how large grocery shutdowns are handled. San Francisco has acted to require supermarkets above a set size threshold to provide at least six months’ notice before closing, post in-store signage for customers, and participate in meetings with city officials and the community intended to explore options for staying open or supporting replacement services.
Closure timing: Feb. 7, 2025 (store), with pharmacy closure listed as Feb. 6, 2025.
Stated reasons: safety concerns and theft issues.
Next steps: pending property sale described for mixed-use redevelopment; no development proposal recorded as submitted in early 2025.
The store’s exit leaves San Francisco balancing public safety, retail viability, land use decisions, and basic access to groceries and prescriptions in a dense, transit-reliant corridor.