Monterey Safeway expansion plans scrapped; store to be ‘upgraded’

For ten years there have been plans afoot to remodel and expand Sunnyside’s Safeway store at 625 Monterey Blvd. Representatives from Albertsons Companies, which bought the Safeway chain in 2015, have just announced that these original plans to overhaul the store are no longer being pursued by the company.

Natalie Mattei, Albertsons Senior Real Estate Manager, has been in regular contact with SNA over the years. She had this to say about the change in plans this week:

“Although the existing store was not being demolished [under previous plans], the extensive construction would have resulted in the grocery store being closed for 10-14 months. Safeway was fortunate to have an amazing group of immediate neighbors and interested community members who helped with design questions and support the entitlement effort. Safeway was close to obtaining building permits this past Fall, at which time a review of building costs and retail developments caused Safeway to pause on an expansion into the parking lot at this time.

“Safeway has been and continues to be a proud member of the Sunnyside neighborhood. … Although an expansion of the grocery store is not feasible at this time, Safeway is still committed to renovating and upgrading the existing store. I would anticipate this design going through the building permit process and getting underway later in 2018. The store should be able to remain in operation through most if not all of the construction.”

Safeway, 625 Monterey Blvd. Photo from http://cecdns_com

Safeway, 625 Monterey Blvd, in the process of being built in 1972. On far left is the Safeway store that preceded it, built 1942, location of current lower parking lot. Image courtesy Jacqueline Proctor, MtDavidson.org. Original source: Ron Davis, Monterey Blvd barber and local historian.