The planned closure of a second Fred Meyer store in Tacoma is raising concerns about access to groceries and medications, and city leaders say they are moving q
The planned closure of a second Fred Meyer store in Tacoma is raising concerns about access to groceries and medications, and city leaders say they are moving quickly to address the impact.
The James Center store at 6901 South 19th Street is set to close permanently in January 2027.
“The loss of a second Fred Meyer in our community is a gut punch. There’s no other way of describing it,” Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen said in a statement.
Anders said he has heard “fear and frustration from Tacoma residents who are scared of worsening food deserts and decreased access to their medications,” and who are also “worried about where our economy is going.”
Ibsen said the city is not in a position to solve the problem immediately. “The city cannot fix this overnight,” he said. “But we are taking immediate steps and have a plan for how to move forward.”
As part of that plan, Ibsen said Tacoma’s economic development team will work with the landlord at James Center to find a new tenant for the space. “Our economic development team will work with the landlord at James Center to fill the void of this commercial vacancy as soon as possible once the store closes,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ibsen said the city will focus on keeping existing grocery stores and attracting new ones.
“Over the long term, we will be taking steps to ensure we are doing everything possible to retain our existing grocers and attract new stores over time,” he said.
Ibsen added that he has begun engaging with grocers and the business community to encourage investments “in the services and infrastructure that improve access and long-term viability, especially in our most underserved communities.”
“We are a resilient, innovative community,” Ibsen said. “I have no doubt that by working together, we can attract, support and retain the businesses crucial to serving our community.”
The closest major grocery store to the James Center Fred Meyer store is more than a mile away.
