CHICAGO () — Chicago residents and neighborhood advocates are raising alarms over the possible shutdown of multiple Save A Lot grocery stores, including locations in West Garfield Park and Englewood, warning that the closures could further limit access to affordable groceries and healthier food choices.
At the Save A Lot near Pulaski Road and Congress Parkway, where signs identify the store as Hometown Grocer, foot traffic was sparse Thursday as the location appeared to be heading toward a weekend closure.
Resident George Miles said he began to worry about the store’s future after walking in and seeing refrigerated sections sitting empty.
“I knew something was wrong when I went in there and all the coolers was empty. I’m like, ‘Come on, you guys had opened just the other day. The coolers was full and not empty,'” Miles said.
Tyrus Stewart, who also lives in the area, said losing the store would hit seniors particularly hard while also creating uncertainty for the workers who rely on those jobs.
“I think it’s terrible and horrible, and it’s real bad for the senior citizens. They come here in the grocery, the grocery store and everything, ’cause I come to this grocery store all the time. And not only that, what about the people that work here?” Stewart said.
Similar fears are growing in Englewood, where residents at a Tuesday night community meeting raised concerns about the potential closure of the Save A Lot on 63rd Street.
Asiaha Butler, founder and CEO of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, said the neighborhood needs expanded grocery access, not fewer options, especially as food prices continue to climb.
“We need to have several options. This is a big community. We still have over 50,000 residents. We need on every corridor, on every corner, a healthy food option,” Butler said.
In a statement, a Save A Lot spokesperson said dramatic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have affected revenue and that the company is working with Yellow Banana to keep seven Chicago stores open.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city is working with stakeholders to maintain grocery access in affected neighborhoods.
“You know, look, we’re going to work with with all parties involved to make sure that there’s you know access to to groceries. Obviously, our investments that we put forward to create these spaces in the first place speaks to my commitment to expanding access to fresh food,” Johnson said.
Alderman Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward said he has been in discussions with city and state officials, as well as potential operators, in an effort to keep the West Garfield Park grocery store open.
“Just found out about this within the last week, week and a half, and been working not only with, uh, the city but also at the state level trying to find resources to help keep these stores open because they’re so desperately needed in our community,” Ervin said.
