It’s closing time for the Safeway on 117th in Orchards, where on Wednesday nearly every item was marked down and shocked shoppers asked what they should expect before the doors shut for good.
Though there are plenty of other places in the area to get groceries, by May 17 you won’t be able to shop here.
Employees were waving “everything must go” signs on the corner of Northeast 117th Avenue and 76th Street as cars zoomed past Wednesday afternoon. A banner on the top of the building read “total inventory blowout.” Hours have been cut to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Shoppers snagged goods with 5 percent to 10 percent markdowns. Some were wondering why their store was going away as they bought groceries, but there didn’t seem to be a clear answer.
Later Wednesday, a regional spokeswoman explained the closure.
“Closing an underperforming store is always a tough decision, but we are focused on growing our business by being the favorite local supermarket, and running great stores where people love to shop,” Portland-based communications manager Jill McGinnis said.
Some of the store’s 59 employees have been telling customers they’ve been offered jobs at other area Safeways.
“Our human resource department is working with the affected employees and the labor unions, where applicable, to attempt to find them other work in nearby Safeway stores that is both consistent with the applicable law and/or labor agreement,” McGinnis said.
It’s not clear how many people, if any, will be let go as a result of the closure.
As for local shoppers, their choices have grown considerably since this Safeway opened in 1984. Fred Meyer across the street had a packed parking lot Wednesday afternoon, and WinCo and Wal-Mart nearby were busy as well.
The store that sells “ingredients for life” has not been updated to match more recent Safeway builds. There is no self-checkout, for example, or a coffee shop. The tile is scuffed and worn with age.
Safeway, based in Pleasanton, Calif., was absorbed by Boise, Idaho-based grocery chain Albertsons early in 2015. Combined, the two have more than 2,200 stores.
Two Safeway stores in Portland have closed since the merger; this is the first Clark County store to close recently, out of about a dozen Clark County Safeways and Albertsons.
No other stores are slated for closure, McGinnis said.
