A major grocery chain is preparing to leave one Colorado city next month, closing a supermarket that also serves as a pharmacy and pickup point for local shoppers. The latest Safeway decision follows other grocery chain closures in 2026, although the company says it has no additional shutdowns planned.
Safeway plans to close its store at 7561 W. 80th Ave. in Arvada on November 14. It is the chain’s only location in the city. By October 15, closeout markdowns were underway, with most shelves still stocked, according to a visit by the local shopping site Mile High on the Cheap.
Why the Colorado supermarket is closing
Safeway spokesperson Heather Halpape told The Denver Post that the company reviewed the store’s performance before making the decision. Safeway plans to keep investing in its other Colorado locations, and Halpape said no additional store closings were planned.
The Arvada announcement follows a larger round of Safeway closures in Colorado in 2025. Ten stores shut across the state last year, including supermarkets in the Denver area, Fort Collins, Loveland and Colorado Springs.
Those earlier closings were part of changes to Safeway’s Colorado network. The newly announced Arvada shutdown is a separate decision affecting one store, rather than another announced batch of 10.
What happens to the employees?
Safeway says it will make every effort to transfer workers from the Arvada location to other stores around metro Denver. The company has not disclosed the store’s employee count or said how many people, if any, might ultimately lose their jobs.
Even for employees who move to another Safeway, a transfer could mean a different commute or work routine. For now, the company has discussed possible transfers rather than announcing a specific layoff number.
Where can customers shop instead?
Arvada won’t be left without supermarkets. King Soopers operates a grocery store at 8031 Wadsworth Blvd., directly across the street from the closing Safeway. Other options around the area include Natural Grocers, Sprouts Farmers Market and Target.
Customers who want to stay with Safeway can look to nearby locations outside Arvada, including one at 10300 Federal Blvd. in Denver. The chain’s official listing for the Arvada store advertises a pharmacy, fuel station, grocery pickup and delivery, so regular customers may have more than groceries to rearrange.
For shoppers hoping to make one last trip, Mile High on the Cheap reported discounts ranging from 5% to 50% across different departments on October 15. The site said closeout purchases were final, with no refunds or exchanges. Discounts and inventory could change as the store approaches its planned final day.
November 14 remains the announced closing date, although the store could finish selling out earlier. The change will end Safeway’s presence in Arvada, not its operations across Colorado.
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