‘Economic and emotional hardship.’ Union upset about Tacoma Fred Meyer closure
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- Tacoma Fred Meyer closure to affect 226 workers, sparking union concern.
- UFCW Local 367 cites economic and emotional hardship for impacted staff.
- Closure part of Kroger's national efficiency plan involving 60 store shutdowns.
A week after news broke that the South End Fred Meyer would be closing in September, a union representing the Tacoma store’s workers says the move “raises serious questions about corporate responsibility.”
UFCW Local 367, representing workers at the store, 7250 Pacific Ave., said in a release issued July 31 that while the union “acknowledges Kroger’s commitment to offer impacted associates the opportunity to transfer to new locations, the union emphasizes that this does not fully address the economic and emotional hardship caused by the closure.”
It noted that the closure “will disproportionately impact low-income seniors and working families throughout the area,” many of whom walk or take the bus to shop or pick up prescriptions.
Michael Hines is president of Local 367. In a statement, Hines said, “The news of the 72nd and Pacific Fred Meyer closure is a heavy blow, not just to the hundreds of hardworking UFCW Local 367 members who tirelessly served this community for decades, but for the entire South End neighborhood.”
He added, “Our members are facing uncertainty about their livelihoods and the community is losing a vital source of groceries, prescriptions, and essential services.”
The union’s release also noted that it was working along with Washington State Labor Council Rapid Response Team “to ensure all members are treated fairly throughout this transition and that they have access to the resources and support needed to maintain stable employment.”
The union did not immediately respond to further request for comment.
Representatives for Fred Meyer and its parent company, Kroger, also did not respond to questions from The News Tribune seeking more information about plans for the site moving forward, as well as more information on reasons behind the closure.
City of Tacoma media representative Maria Lee told The News Tribune on Friday in response to questions, “The Economic Development Committee has requested an update from the Community & Economic Development Department on this topic at a future meeting.”
She added, “At this time, we anticipate this to occur in late August.”
The grocer on July 23 stated that the move to close was “part of a larger company-wide decision to run more efficiently and ensure the long-term health of our business.” The statement also added that Fred Meyer would offer “each impacted associate the opportunity to transfer to a new location.”
The company’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing sent to the state’s Employment Security Department was obtained by The News Tribune via a public records request.
The filing included a sample notice to employees and spreadsheet of job titles and number of workers affected. It did not specify a reason for the closure.
A total of 226 workers are affected by the closure.
The filing stated that Fred Meyer intended to “close and permanently terminate the entirety of operations” at the site.
It also stated that it “anticipates that the store closure would occur no sooner than the 14-day period commencing 9/27/25.”
The representative of a separate union, BCTGM Local 9, tied to other store workers and listed in the company’s WARN filing, also did not respond for comment on Friday.
Meanwhile, a local petition on Change.org seeking to stop or delay the closure had nearly 1,700 signatures by Friday morning.
Many supporters of the petition left comments on the website emphasizing how dependent the immediate vicinity is for the store’s array of goods and services.
“This store has been here for way longer than I’ve been alive and is the only store in the area that carries most of what I need,” wrote one respondent. “There is no sense in closing a venue that constantly has foot traffic like this one!”
“This store is a vital part of our community,” wrote another. “Yes, crime and violence are challenges, but wouldn’t it make more sense to invest in positive change rather than tearing it down, forcing us to travel farther and pay more for basic necessities?”
Closures here, construction elsewhere
It all comes months after a failed merger attempt by Kroger and Albertsons/Safeway, with Kroger and Albertsons in ongoing litigation over the fallout.
During Cincinatti-based Kroger’s most recent earnings call in June, Ronald Sargent, chairman and Interim CEO of the company, stated, “We are making meaningful changes to the business to create a culture that benefits our customers and our associates, while improving long-term shareholder value.”
About Kroger’s plans for 60 store closures nationwide in the next 18 months, he stated, “We don’t take these decisions lightly, but this will make the company more efficient.”
Elsewhere, Portland’s Gateway Fred Meyer, in operation for more than 70 years, also is closing in September, affecting approximately 250 workers. The Gateway Shopping Center, which started as a Fred Meyer, is itself for sale.
A QFC in Mill Creek, Washington, also is slated for closure in September, affecting 76 workers. QFC is another Kroger-subsidiary store chain.
In contrast to its actions in the Pacific Northwest, Kroger on July 30 broke ground on a new, $40 million Kroger Marketplace in South Charleston, West Virginia. The store will feature not only groceries but “home goods, apparel, and other essentials,” according to WV MetroNews, which noted it would be Kroger’s first-of-its-kind such store for that state.
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
