For lease: Former Tacoma Fred Meyer offers lots of space as it seeks next tenant
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Former Fred Meyer site at 7250 Pacific Ave. available for new tenant; 149,886 SF.
- Current lease runs through April 2046 after 2021 sale-leaseback completed by Fred Meyer.
- SENCO pursues Kroger grant and organizes food drive to address access.
The space that was formerly home to the South End Fred Meyer is ready for a new tenant.
Signs advertising the space for lease can be seen at the site, 7250 Pacific Ave. The store closed to shoppers Sept. 17. Real estate listing site LoopNet indicates the site was listed about a week ago.
The property’s real estate flyer says the former store site “is currently available for sublease or other proposals.”
It notes, “This opportunity includes 11 acres, a 149,886 square-foot building with 3 dock doors, a 9,900 SF garden center, along with 871 shared surface parking stalls.”
The existing lease term, the result of a sale-leaseback for the property entered into by Fred Meyer in 2021, runs through April 2046.
Meanwhile, a representative of the South End Neighborhood Council in September sent a request asking city officials to reach out to the area’s smaller convenience stores and ask directly to consider stocking fresh products “and healthier grocery options.”
A copy of the email, shared with The News Tribune, also sought information on “incentives or supports (that) might be available (or could be created) to help offset the cost for businesses that are willing to participate.”
Maria Lee, media representative for the city, told The News Tribune in response to questions via email that “The first and most effective step is for community members to speak directly with their local store owners and managers to request these new products. A collective, unified customer voice is the single most persuasive factor for any retailer.”
“While the City’s Community & Economic Development Department does not currently have incentive programs for a store’s specific inventory, the viability of any food retailer — whether it’s a large supermarket or a small corner store — is directly tied to community purchasing habits. This remains the key economic factor for any future solution,” Lee added.
“We remain committed to supporting the economic health of this community and are working with our partners at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to address the public health component of this challenge.”
Lee also said that Tacoma “remains in communication with Fred Meyer and has been actively supporting the company’s search for a new tenant for the vacant property with informational resources.”
She added that the city encourages “any interested parties with site-development proposals to contact the City of Tacoma Community & Economic Development Department Director Tanja Carter or Fred Meyer directly.”
Andrea Haug, chairperson of the South End Neighborhood Council, told The News Tribune via text in response to questions Wednesday that the council was waiting on a decision for a grant to help the area.
The council has applied for a community grant seeking $250,000 from Kroger to be used for “interim food support,” and Haug told The News Tribune earlier that they’d hoped for a response by Oct. 22.
“We checked the Kroger grant portal and it says our request for funds is still under consideration,” she said via text Wednesday.
South End food drive
Haug and others have previously stressed many residents surrounding the site had grown used to decades of access to Fred Meyer by foot, and those without transportation would be challenged to have easy access to a full-sized grocer and pharmacy.
Now, some of those same people face additional struggles with the impending Nov. 1 loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the federal government shutdown.
The neighborhood council recently announced a food-collection drive, seeking “just one dry good from your pantry rice, beans, pasta, cereal, canned vegetables, or any shelf-stable item.”
For more information on making food or cash donations, go to the neighborhood council’s Facebook page.
