Colorado Safeway Closures Spark Community Resilience and Innovative Food Access Solutions
Several Safeway locations across Colorado are slated to close by November 7th, leaving residents concerned about access to groceries and impacting valued employees. These closures, though, are also igniting a powerful wave of community-led initiatives focused on building enduring food solutions.
Impact of Store Closures
The impending closures affect stores in Englewood, Northglenn, Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Colorado Springs, as well as smaller communities like La Junta and Lamar. Customers like Tim DiNoia,a longtime shopper,expressed worry about the fate of the employees they’ve come to know. “All the cashiers, the managers, everybody in there-they’re fantastic people,” he said. “I don’t want them to lose their job, and hopefully they can absorb them into the othre stores.”
This situation echoes past experiences, particularly in the Montbello neighborhood of Denver. A decade ago, a similar grocery store closure served as a catalyst for significant change.
From Food Desert to Community Empowerment
The closure in Montbello didn’t lead to resignation, but rather to a unified response addressing food insecurity. This led directly to the creation of the Montbello Sustainable Food Access Coalition. It’s a network of nonprofits and school gardens dedicated to providing healthy, accessible meals to families in need.
Moreover, the community rallied behind the FreshLo Hub project. This enterprising mixed-use advancement aims to bring affordable housing, retail space, an arts education center, mental health services, and a crucial component: the Montbello FreshLo Fresh Food Market.
A New Model for Food Access: FreshLo
The Montbello FreshLo Fresh Food Market, located near Peoria Street and East Albrook Drive, is set to open by mid-next year. It will offer 5,200 square feet of grocery space stocked with staples, fresh produce, and made-from-scratch prepared foods.
community leaders are finalizing financing and prioritizing hiring local residents. they are steadfast to build a solution with the community, not for the community. “that was a community response to the fact that, well, are we just going to sit back and wait for somebody to come here and address our food needs?” explained a key organizer. “No, we’re going to take it on as a systemic issue and really build out a lot of capacity.”
Expanding the FreshLo Vision
The initial success in Montbello is fueling broader ambitions. Plans are underway to open three stores starting in March, with a goal of expanding to at least five locations across Denver within the next two years.
This expansion recognizes that the need for affordable, healthy food isn’t limited to one neighborhood. It’s a nationwide issue demanding innovative, community-driven solutions.
Colorado Safeway Store Closures – List of Locations
Here’s a complete list of the Colorado Safeway stores scheduled to close by November 7th:
* 201 E. Jefferson Ave., Englewood
* 500 E. 120th Ave, Northglenn
* 1653 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver
* 12200 E. Mississippi Ave., Aurora
* 3657 S. College Ave, Fort Collins
* 860 Cleveland Ave., Loveland
* 5060 N. academy Blvd., colorado Springs
* 1425 S. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs
* 315 W. 2nd St., La Junta
* 906 E. Olive St., Lamar
These closures present challenges, but also opportunities. You can see how communities are stepping up to ensure everyone has access to the nutritious food they deserve. This proactive approach demonstrates the power of local action in addressing systemic issues and building a more resilient future.
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