(KTLA) – For the second time in recent days, Safeway has announced that one of its grocery stores in the Bay Area will be closing, citing “financial performance and ongoing safety concerns.”

More Safeway closures could be on the way, punctuating a tumultuous time for a grocery chain that has been around for more than 100 years.

It’s part of a growing trend of store closures in California and across the country from some of the most popular chains we all grew up with: Macy’s, Party City, Big Lots, and more.

Walgreens confirms to KTLA that a series of Southern California stores are shutting down. They point to rising costs associated with “rent, staffing, and supply needs” and say closures are a last resort after doing everything possible to improve store performance.

Here is a list of the Southern California Walgreens closures:

  • 11604 Whittier Blvd in Whittier, closing March 20
  • 617 W. 7th St in Los Angeles, closing March 27
  • 3237 E. Chapman Ave in Orange, closing March 25
  • 1201 E. Yorba Linda Blvd in Placentia, closing March 24
  • 11900 Beach Blvd in Stanton, closing March 26

Walgreens and Safeway aren’t alone. Coresight Research estimates some 15,000 stores will be closing in 2025.

Among them are dozens of CVS locations. CVS confirms to KTLA that it is on track to close another 270 stores nationwide this year on top of some 900 store closures that have already taken place. CVS says the closures are based on factors including “population shifts, buying patterns, and community health needs.”

CVS says it has opened another 100 stores at the same time, including dozens of CVS Pharmacy locations inside Target stores set to open in 2025.

So why all the store closures and changing customer patterns?

“The retail industry is still trying to get its post-pandemic footing,” says KTLA consumer reporter David Lazarus. “Store closures accelerated after consumers moved all their shopping online. This has been tough for grocery stores, drugstores, and other businesses that rely on foot traffic.”

Data reviewed by Newsweek shows a 69% increase in store closures from 2023 to 2024.

Oftentimes, Lazarus says it’s the sky-high rent that is the final straw, but changing consumer demand online is fueling it all.

“This gives lower-overhead sites such as Amazon a decided advantage in terms of pricing and has forced the likes of Walmart and Target to step up their online game if they want to compete. And that only exacerbates the problem for brick-and-mortar retailers,” Lazarus argues. “As they focus on living in Amazon’s world, they’re helping train their customers to embrace the lower prices and convenience of online shopping. For that reason, more store closures seem inevitable.”