EVERETT—Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer, has announced the permanent closures of its store located in Everett’s Casino Corner and another in Kent’s East Hill neighborhood, citing a “rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment.” The closures, scheduled for October 17 and 18, of this year, will affect approximately 360 employees and raise concerns about food access, prompting local leaders to address the resulting economic and social challenges.
“From the moment we learned of this yesterday morning my administration is focused on next steps: in the short term, we will be ensuring families have reliable access to groceries and supporting our many remaining local markets, both large and small in South Everett,” Mayor Cassie Franklin told the Lynnwood Times. “Looking ahead, we are planning for redevelopment opportunities at this important site in line with our South Everett Economic Development Strategy and the future light rail. I’m also having staff look into policy changes that could better protect our community in the future.”
Everett City Councilman Ben Zarlingo, representing District 5, which includes the Casino Corner store, echoed Franklin’s concerns and questioned Kroger’s rationale.
“To the best of my understanding, shoplifting crime is actually down significantly at the Casino/Evergreen location,” Zarlingo said. “The Everett City Council re-criminalized open/public use of illicit drugs before the State did so. We’ve enacted no-sit/no-lie zones, SODA (stay out of drug areas) laws, and have focused Everett Police patrols and have increased police staff as quickly as we can.”
Zarlingo added that the council will need to redouble efforts on public safety and sustainable commercial development, with discussions planned for the Everett City Council’s meeting on Wednesday, August 20.
The Fred Meyer stores at 8530 Evergreen Way in Everett and 10201 SE 240th St. in Kent are among 60 stores nationwide that Kroger plans to shutter over the next 18 months, following earlier announcements of store closures in both Tacoma and Mill Creek.
“Unfortunately, due to a steady rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment that adds significant costs, we can no longer make these stores financially viable,” a Kroger spokesperson stated to KIRO Newsradio. “Despite doubling our safety and security investment over the past years, these challenges remain.”
The company is offering all affected employees positions at other locations.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 (UFCW), representing the affected employees, disputes Kroger’s reasoning, arguing that the closures reflect a prioritization of profits over community and workforce needs. As Kroger moves forward, the UFCW plans to address these closures in its 2027 collective bargaining negotiations.
“Kroger’s closures put profit over people, plain and simple,” UFCW President Faye Guenther stated. “This corporate strategy might please Wall Street investors, but we know it’ll create food deserts in our neighborhoods and disrupt the lives of hundreds of workers already displaced by a housing affordability crisis now ten years in the making.”
Both Franklin and Zarlingo shared a similar sentiment.
“Kroger is a large publicly traded company that is presumably maximizing return for their shareholders,” said Zarlingo with Franklin adding, “I understand the need to make strategic business decisions, but when it negatively impacts our local families and hinders their ability to access the day-to-day basics they rely on, it’s my duty to speak out for them.”
In addressing Kroger’s narrative of a “steady rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment,” as justification for closing the stores, Mayor Franklin highlighted her city’s efforts to support Fred Meyer and combat crime that included emphasis patrols and anti-shoplifting operations, and the creation of a public safety buffer zone, all of which led to an 82% decrease in shoplifting since 2020 and an overall 36% reduction in area offenses from 2023 to 2024.
“In the last few years, we’ve directed significant resources to strategically support this location, including regular meetings with store leadership, emphasis patrols (totaling more than 3,600 visits), operations targeting shoplifting, consistent CARE team outreach to individuals in the area and passing legislation to establish a public safety buffer zone around the store,” said Franklin. “These actions worked; crime at the store dropped by nearly half last year alone and the surrounding area saw a 36% decrease in offenses from 2023 to 2024. Shoplifting saw the most dramatic change, decreasing by 82% since 2020.”
Everett mayoral candidate Scott Murphy stressed the impact of the closures to South Everett’s working families and seniors.
“Its loss will make it harder for many neighbors—especially those with limited transportation options—to meet their basic needs,” he said and called for a focus on public safety and business retention to support the community.
Author: Mario Lotmore
