San Jose Safeway Closes After 57 Years on Bollinger Road

A Safeway supermarket in San Jose's South Bay will permanently close around November 13, ending 57 years of service at 6150 Bollinger Road. Safeway confirmed the planned closure to SFGATE, making the location the latest Bay Area store to shut down amid a series of supermarket closures across the region. The Bollinger Road supermarket has served local residents for decades and also provided a gathering place for nearby middle and high school students.

According to SFGATE, the store has played a role in alternative diploma programs that help students practice everyday tasks, including navigating a grocery store, locating products and completing purchases. The planned shutdown follows other Safeway closures in Pinole, Hayward, Vallejo and San Francisco in recent years, according to SFGATE. The company declined to explain the reason for closing the San Jose location.

Safeway has also drawn attention this year for redevelopment proposals that would combine housing and commercial uses at several Bay Area properties. The projects, developed in partnership with Align Real Estate, include locations in the Marina District, Outer Richmond, Bernal Heights and the Fillmore District.

Separately, a July investigation by SFGATE examined property practices involving Safeway's parent company, Albertsons. The investigation found that company-owned supermarket properties had remained vacant for extended periods in at least seven California buildings, either because the company kept the properties empty or because lease restrictions prevented other businesses from selling groceries at those locations. California Gov.

Gavin Newsom signed legislation in September intended to limit those practices, according to SFGATE. The legislative action followed the investigation into long-term vacancies at supermarket buildings owned by Albertsons.

Safeway has not publicly provided a specific explanation for the Bollinger Road closure in its response to SFGATE. The store is expected to cease operations on or around November 13.