Fred Meyer stores in Kent and Everett closing

Two Fred Meyer stores in western Washington will close mid-October, affecting about 360 workers.

Kroger closes Fred Meyer stores in Kent and Everett

Kroger confirmed that the Everett and Kent Fred Meyer stores will close permanently in mid-October. The company says 360 employees will be affected and cites a steady rise in theft and a costly regulatory environment as factors making the stores financially unviable. Each associate will be offered a position at another Kroger location, though some workers may face longer commutes. The closures are scheduled for October 17 and 18.

The UFCW 3000 union representing the workers argues the moves threaten food access in low-income communities and notes Kroger is opening stores in other areas that may have higher sales. The union says the contract requires placement in equivalent roles at nearby stores and plans to meet with Kroger on the issue soon. Welfare of workers and community access to affordable groceries are central points of contention as negotiations continue in the broader regional context.

The closures highlight a clash between corporate strategies and community needs. For workers, job losses add to household uncertainty in a region already watching cost of living rise. For neighbors, the loss of a nearby grocery can worsen food deserts, especially in low-income areas already facing barriers to affordable fresh produce. The dispute centers on whether profits should come at the expense of community access, and how labor commitments translate when stores shut. As consolidation in the grocery sector continues, the case tests how policymakers and unions respond to gaps in local food infrastructure while balancing worker rights and corporate flexibility.

Highlights

The outcome will influence how communities defend grocery access when a familiar store disappears.