Grocery chain Haggen announced Friday it will be closing or selling 27 stores in West Coast states, including six locations in San Diego.
Most of the stores slated for closure in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington were those acquired by Haggen when Albertsons and Safeway sold off 146 stores earlier this year, the company says in a news release.
Over the next 60 days, these San Diego locations will be closed:
- San Marcos at 671 Rancho Santa Fe Road
- El Cajon at 2800 Fletcher Parkway
- La Mesa at 5630 Lake Murray Boulevard
- Chula Vista at 505 Telegraph Canyon Road
- Chula Vista at 870 3rd Avenue
- San Ysidro at 350 W. San Ysidro Boulevard
This spring, the Washington-based grocer opened or converted 25 stores across San Diego County.
But by July, the struggling company announced it would start laying off more than 700 workers and cutting back remaining employees' hours.
Haggen has not determined how many jobs will be affected by this round of closures.
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“Haggen’s goal going forward is to ensure a stable, healthy company that will benefit our customers, associates, vendors, creditors, stakeholders as well as the communities we serve,” said Haggen CEO Pacific Southwest Bill Shaner in a news release. “By making the tough choice to close and sell some stores, we will be able to invest in stores that have the potential to thrive under the Haggen banner.”
When Albertsons and Safeway were forced to divest stores during their merger, Haggen grew from 18 stores and 16 pharmacies in the Pacific Northwest to 164 stores and 106 pharmacies across the western U.S.
In addition to the downsizing, Haggen has also been the target of a $41.1 million lawsuit by Alberstons. The chain alleges that Haggen failed to pay for a portion of the inventory that came with the stores, according to the Seattle Times.
