Recent Tacoma and Pierce County business closures

This list of articles highlights recent business closures in Tacoma and Pierce County, including small businesses and larger companies.

Pierce County is losing Maverick Gaming's Palace Casino in Lakewood, as the company files for bankruptcy. The decision followed financial struggles, including tough competition and debt obligations. In Tacoma’s South End, Kroger's plan to close the Fred Meyer store marks the end of an era. Neighboring businesses and residents lament the loss of the community hub. Tacoma is also losing a beloved contract post office at Rankos Pharmacy in the Stadium District.

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Arti O’Brien, the president of Advanced Government Services, stands for a portrait with equipment from the safety equipment supplier on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. O’Brien credits the business’s success to the support she received from the Minority Business Development Agency. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 1: FEDERALLY-FUNDED WA BUSINESS CENTER CLOSES THIS MONTH, LEAVING ‘HUGE VOID’

Washington’s Minority Business Development Center closes on June 30. | Published June 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

Pharmacy assistant Julie Lisoski, left, stands with co-owner Deanna Rankos, center, and Alicia Mendez, who works as a pharmacy assistant and operates the post office substation at Rankos’ Pharmacy, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, outside of the pharmacy in the Stadium District of Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 2: ‘IT’S A SHAME.’ BELOVED TACOMA CONTRACT POST OFFICE TO CLOSE IN SEPTEMBER

The contract postal unit has operated out of Rankos Pharmacy for decades. | Published July 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

The Olympic View shopping center in Gig Harbor, Washington, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 3: DRUGSTORE-CLOSURE FALLOUT CONTINUES IN PIERCE COUNTY WITH THIS BARTELL TO CLOSE

CVS confirms plans affecting Rite Aid and Bartell brands in Gig Harbor. | Published July 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Bail was set at $1 million each for a Vancouver, Wash. couple at their court appearance

NO. 4: PIERCE COUNTY CASINO CLOSING AS ITS OPERATOR FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY

The company in bankruptcy filing cited “significant competition from tribal casinos in their key Washington market, operational misalignments, and industry headwinds.” | Published July 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

The Fred Meyer at 7250 Pacific Ave. is set to close in September.

NO. 5: THIS TACOMA FRED MEYER IS SET TO CLOSE AMID KROGER’S REDUCTION OF STORES NATIONWIDE

Plans call for 60 Kroger-owned stores nationwide to shutter over 18 months. | Published July 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

NO. 6: WHAT WILL BECOME OF BUSY SOUTH END STREET CORNER AFTER FRED MEYER CLOSES?

“It’s the epicenter. ... it’s literally our everything. It is our business district, that darn Fred Meyer, right there,” the South End Neighborhood Council chair said. | Published July 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

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Cars move along South 72nd Street past an entrance to the Fred Meyer in the South End on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 7: ‘ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIP.’ UNION UPSET ABOUT TACOMA FRED MEYER CLOSURE

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. | Published August 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Shoppers exit the Fred Meyer in the South End on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 8: FRED MEYER FILES TACOMA STORE CLOSURE NOTICE. HUNDREDS OF WORKERS AFFECTED

A layoff notice to the state’s Employment Security Department on Tuesday gave new details on the recent announced closure of the Fred Meyer store in Tacoma’s South End. | Published July 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.