Major store closures in Tacoma and across the South Sound

These curated articles revolve around major retail closures changing the South Sound shopping environment. Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs saw closures due to bankruptcy proceedings.

Meanwhile, Kroger reduces its national footprint. Tacoma's Fred Meyer on Pacific Avenue shut down. Walmart is closing a Federal Way store and pharmacy at the end of October.

The Bartell Drugs at 1850 S. Mildred St. in Tacoma is on the latest Rite Aid store closure list. Bartell is a subsidiary of Rite Aid.

NO. 1: RITE AID, BARTELL DRUGS CLOSURES EXPAND, INCLUDING IN TACOMA. HERE’S AN UPDATE

The closure is one of two Bartell Drugs sites in Washington state added in latest list. | Published June 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

This is the sign on a Rite Aid Pharmacy in Pittsburgh, Pa., Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Rite Aid topped Wall Street expectations for the fiscal second quarter, Thursday, Sept. 24, and gave a revised annual forecast, one quarter after withdrawing it due to COVID-19 uncertainty. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

NO. 2: SEE WHICH RITE AID STORES IN PIERCE, THURSTON COUNTIES ARE ON NEW LISTS OF CLOSURES

Bartell Drugs also set to be rebranded with new name. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

The Rite Aid at 11220 Canyon Road E., Puyallup, is on Rite Aid’s most recent closure list.

NO. 3: DRUGSTORE CHAIN’S CLOSURES CLAIM ANOTHER PUYALLUP LOCATION, OTHER SITES

Seven more stores statewide are in latest closure notification filed in bankruptcy court. | Published July 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

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

NO. 4: 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. 5: 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

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. 6: ‘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. 7: 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

NO. 8: NOT SO FAST, FRED MEYER: SOUTH END SET TO WEIGH IN ON CLOSURE WITH TOWN HALL

Story has been updated with new meeting location for town hall. | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Cars move by an entrance to the Fred Meyer along Pacific Avenue on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the South End of Tacoma, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 9: CITY GRAPPLES WITH LOSS OF SOUTH END FRED MEYER STORE AND WHAT COULD COME NEXT

City of Tacoma officials on Tuesday told members of a City Council committee they are still in the “fact-finding” phase of next steps regarding the planned closure of Fred Meyer at 72nd Street and Pacific Avenue. | Published August 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Washington state Sen. Steve Conway speaks to a crowd of concerned citizens during a town hall meeting about the upcoming closure of the Fred Meyer at 72nd Street and Pacific Avenue, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 10: SOUTH END TOWN HALL PARTICIPANTS EXPRESS ANGER, FRUSTRATION OVER FRED MEYER LOSS

Emotions were raw at a South End town hall that featured local and state officials on a panel to address the planned closure of the Fred Meyer store at 72nd Street and Pacific Avenue. | Published August 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

NO. 11: BAD NEWS IF YOU FILL UP YOUR CAR AT THE SOUTH END FRED MEYER FUEL STATION

The South End Fred Meyer that closed last week is now working toward dismantling its longtime onsite fuel station. | Published September 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Walmart has announced closure of its store at 1900 S. 314th St. in Federal Way at the end of October.

NO. 12: WALMART ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF AREA STORE, PHARMACY. HERE ARE THE DETAILS

Another national retailer has decided to close the doors of one of its stores in the area. | Published September 26, 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.