CINCINNATI, OH — Kroger is moving ahead with a plan to close about 60 underperforming stores by the end of 2026, and at least 40 of those locations have already been identified through company statements and local reporting. The reductions reach well beyond stores that carry the Kroger name.
The affected banners include Harris Teeter, Mariano’s, Pick ’n Save, QFC, Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food and Drug, King Soopers, Food 4 Less and Jay C Food Stores. The company has said the stores being removed are not producing sustainable results.
What Kroger Said
Kroger has not released a complete public list of every closure tied to the plan. Instead, the company has confirmed that the store cuts will unfold over an 18-month period and that additional locations could still be announced before the end of 2026.
So far, locations named in company statements and local coverage include stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Where Cuts Are Hitting
The listed stores include a wide spread of metro areas, from Mesa, Arizona, and Inglewood, California, to Houston, Texas, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Georgia alone has multiple Kroger locations named, while the Chicago suburbs of Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove and Northbrook are among the Illinois sites already identified.
Other confirmed locations include Harris Teeter stores in Rockville, Maryland; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and Arlington and McLean, Virginia. Kroger also has named stores in cities such as Louisville, South Bend, Charlottesville, Tacoma and South Charleston.
What Comes Next
Kroger says employees at affected stores will be offered positions elsewhere in the company. The chain also expects only a modest financial benefit from the closures and has said the savings will be reinvested in remaining stores.
Customers looking for updates can check Kroger’s corporate announcements and local store notices, since the company has not ruled out more confirmed closures. For shoppers, the practical takeaway is that the reduction plan is still in motion and the list is not yet finished.
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