As Kroger announces the closure of 60 stores nationwide, six of these will directly impact the Northwest and Seattle markets. The company attributes the decision largely to ongoing theft and regulatory challenges. However, this reasoning offers little comfort to workers and families now facing uncertainty about their livelihoods. For many already strained by inflation, traveling farther for groceries will add an additional burden. Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, a resident of Kent where a Fred Meyer store is set to close, emphasized the human toll: “Our neighbors who are being impacted here on the East Hill are not that affluent. They’re working-class people doing everything they can to get by, and this is a major blow to their quality of life.”
Similarly, in Everett, the closure of a Fred Meyer will affect a neighborhood of 13,000 residents, the majority of whom are Latino. Kroger has stated that theft and regulatory issues remain the primary drivers of the closures. A company spokesperson noted: “Despite an impactful partnership with local law enforcement, theft and regulatory pressures still remain significant challenges. We have increased our safety investment by nearly 50%.”
Yet, Everett city data tells a different story: theft at Fred Meyer locations has dropped 82% over the last five years. Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin pushed back on Kroger’s explanation: “I think when a retailer is closing that many stores across the state and across the country, they’re looking for other reasons to blame, rather than just the bottom line, because that narrative doesn’t really resonate with people who really need these essential services.”
She added that in her recent conversation with Kroger’s CEO, theft was not mentioned as a reason for the closures, raising further questions about the closures.
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