New SF Grocery Outlet to open near Fisherman's Wharf

FILE - A grocery cart sits in an aisle at a grocery store on Feb. 15, 2023. (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - Grocery Outlet's sixth San Francisco location is officially set to open its doors to shoppers at the NorthPoint Centre in 2026, filling a void left when Safeway closed its location at the shopping center two years ago.
San Francisco District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, Grocery Outlet and Anchor Pacific Capital announced in a joint statement on Thursday that an agreement had been reached and a lease signed to open the Grocery Outlet at the shopping center at 350 Bay St.
The backstory:
Safeway originally occupied the space, but left in 2023.
Since the previous grocery store's departure, Sauter has worked closely with Grocery Outlet and Anchor Pacific to fill the space.
Sauter also led a community petition to fill the space, which gathered over 1,000 signatures and "demonstrated significant community support for a new store."
"I am thrilled that Grocery Outlet is coming to District 3," Sauter said. "This opening will improve daily life and convenience for our District 3 residents, particularly nearby communities of North Beach and Chinatown. Residents need and deserve access to fresh and affordable groceries. I want to thank Grocery Outlet and Anchor Pacific Capital for their partnership and for their investment in our neighborhood."
What's next:
The Grocery Outlet will hire more than 50 employees to meet the needs of its shoppers and provide fresh produce, a broad selection of grocery items and essentials at discounted prices.
"Grocery Outlet was founded on a commitment to deliver fresh, high-quality products at budget-friendly prices, and we couldn’t be more excited to extend that commitment to the Fisherman’s Wharf area," said Eric Lindberg, Grocery Outlet CEO. "We know how important this site is to the surrounding community and we are thrilled to soon be able to further our commitment to San Francisco and its residents."
The other side:
San Francisco has struggled to retain retailers in recent years.
Another Safeway location in the Fillmore District was set to close in March 2024 after 40 years of operation due to "ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety" and "persistent issues with theft," but extensive outcry from the community prompted an 11-month lease extension until February.
Additionally, 12 Walgreens locations in San Francisco are also set to close by February, prompting community members to raise concerns over a loss of access to medications provided by the store pharmacies. And on Tuesday, Bloomingdale's announced it would be closing its flagship store at the San Francisco Centre Mall in spring, which itself has struggled to keep shops open.