Fred Meyer confirmed it will close its James Center store in Tacoma, leaving the city with just one remaining location. The store at 6901 S 19th Street will remain open until Jan. 30, 2027, according to UFCW 367, the union representing roughly 100 workers at the store. Kroger, Fred Meyer’s parent company, cited a decision not to renew the building’s lease.
It is the second Tacoma Fred Meyer to close in as many years. The 72nd and Pacific Avenue location shut down in September 2025. The closures are part of Kroger’s broader plan to shutter 60 stores over an 18-month period.
Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen called the closure “a gut punch” and said the city would take steps to retain existing grocers and attract new ones. The nearest major grocery store to the James Center location is about a mile and a half away; the other Fred Meyer is at 4505 S 19th Street, which sits across the street from a Walmart…