San Francisco proposal requires six months’ notice before a grocery store closes

It’s been 40 years in the making, but San Francisco grocery stores might soon have to give six months’ notice prior to closing, hold community meetings, and search for a replacement. 

The proposed ordinance by San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston is based on a proposal that was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1984, but vetoed by then-Mayor Diane Feinstein. 

Preston said in a press release that the three requirements in the Neighborhood Grocery Protection Act aim to prepare residents before their neighborhood grocery store closes. 

“It was a good idea in 1984, and it’s an even better idea now,” Preston said in a press release. “Our communities need notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a transition plan when major neighborhood grocery stores plan to shut their doors. Meeting the food security needs of our seniors and families cannot be left to unilateral backroom decisions by massive corporate entities.”

The proposal follows a resolution authored by Preston in March, which calls on the city to study the possibility of bringing a grocery store to the Tenderloin district. Residents in that area are more than a half mile from a full-scale supermarket.

Preston’s resurrection of the 1984 ordinance also follows his efforts to keep a Safeway supermarket open in his district. He held a rally outside the store in January, following the store’s announcement that it would remain open until January 2025. 

In a press release, Preston said that he is working with community leaders to ensure that the Safeway location remains a supermarket after the grocer has vacated the location. 

“Food insecurity is on the rise, especially for seniors and families, as food prices skyrocket and food programs face major cuts,” Preston said. “We need to be doing everything in our power to maintain access to groceries in our neighborhoods.”