Thousands of residents in Tacoma’s South End rely on the Fred Meyer at 72nd and Pacific for their groceries, prescriptions, and household essentials. This store is a lifeline in a neighborhood already recognized by public health officials as a food desert — an area where people have limited access to affordable, fresh, and nutritious food. Many in the South End do not drive and must walk or take the bus to shop for food, medication, and daily necessities. Losing this store would disproportionately impact low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and working-class households who already face barriers to meeting basic needs.

If Fred Meyer closes without a replacement, the South End will be left without a single full-service grocery store in its core business corridor. Walgreens has already closed at 56th and Pacific. Rite Aid was lost, and we were fortunate that CVS stepped in to fill the pharmacy gap. Still, the closure of Fred Meyer would leave yet another major corner vacant, compounding the disinvestment and lack of access our community is already facing. Empty storefronts erode community safety, public health, and economic opportunity. Without action, food insecurity will increase, health outcomes will worsen, and our neighborhood will continue to be overlooked.

We cannot wait for another study or empty promise. The South End deserves more than disinvestment. It deserves fresh food, safe access, and responsive leadership. With the closure announced and communities already struggling, we must act now to demand that Kroger, City of Tacoma officials, and Pierce County leaders either keep this store open or ensure a full-service grocery provider replaces it immediately.

We are calling for the following:

Stop or delay the closure of Fred Meyer at 72nd and Pacific until a replacement is secured
Ensure any replacement includes grocery, pharmacy, and essential services for all South End residents
Use city and county tools — including zoning, grants, and development incentives — to attract a new grocery tenant
Support nonprofit or community-led grocery models, co-ops, or food hubs that serve the neighborhood
Partner with food justice organizations like Nourish Pierce County to ensure no one is left without access during the transition

Food is not optional. Our neighborhood deserves better.

Sign this petition to demand grocery justice for the South End of Tacoma. Then share it with your neighbors, your networks, and your city leaders.