An empty commercial space in downtown San Jose where a Safeway was previously located is still vacant nearly five years later, after an oral wellness company backed out of a deal to move there last summer.
Downtown advocates and residents remain hopeful another grocery store can fill the space, but officials say that could still be months or even years away.
“Having conversations with our small business community and residents, they want more options for grocery stores downtown, as we haven’t had an official grocery store downtown since Safeway left,” District 3 Councilmember Omar Torres, who represents the area, told San José Spotlight.
Torres said he’s had discussions with Chavez Supermarket and Arteaga’s Food Center, both well-known Bay Area-based grocery chains, in an effort to attract them or other outlets to the 24,000-square-foot vacant space at 100 S. Second St.
The commercial space on the ground floor of The 88, a condominium building, has been vacant since 2019 when Safeway ended its lease.