If you’ve noticed your local Kroger looking a bit emptier, you’re not imagining things. The Cincinnati-based grocer is closing 60 stores over the next 18 months, a move aimed at shedding underperforming locations while it pursues a merger with Albertsons.

4 related posts

Stores to close: 60 ·
Closure period: 18 months starting 2025 ·
First wave cities: Houston, TX; Spring, TX (by April 2026) ·
Affected metro areas: Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Miami, Atlanta

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact addresses of all 60 stores remain unconfirmed in a single verified source
  • Whether layoff numbers per store are disclosed
  • If Kroger will close stores in Florida entirely or just some
3Timeline signal
  • Mid-2025: Kroger announces plan to close 60 stores over 18 months
  • June 23, 2025: Wisconsin closures announced, including 5 Pick ‘n Save stores
  • August 26, 2025: Grocery Dive publishes breakdown of affected metro areas
  • February 25, 2026: AL.com reports Kroger begins closing stores in Houston and Spring, Texas by April 10
4What’s next
  • Remaining 40+ stores to close in waves through early 2027
  • Store sale list to be completed as part of Albertsons merger divestiture
  • Potential layoffs and community impact assessments ahead

Six key facts, one pattern: Kroger is systematically pruning its weakest locations to shore up performance before a major merger. Below are the confirmed details from the closure plan.

Snapshot of the closure plan:

Fact Detail
Announcement date August 2025 (by Grocery Dive report) / February 2026 (by AL.com)
Total stores closing 60
Closure window 18 months from mid-2025
Confirmed first wave deadline April 10, 2026 (Texas locations)
Reason given Underperforming stores
Merger-related divestiture list Published by Kroger and Albertsons

The implication: this cleanup is designed to make the combined company more attractive to regulators, not a sign of financial trouble.

Why Is Kroger Closing 60 Stores?

  • Kroger announced in June 2025 it would close about 60 stores over the next 18 months, according to KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate).
  • The affected stores are described as underperforming, representing roughly 5% of Kroger’s branded network of more than 1,200 locations, Mashed (food news site) reported.
  • Kroger said the closures do not affect its current-year financial guidance, a detail Grocery Dive (trade publication) noted in its August 2025 breakdown.

The pattern: Kroger is not in bankruptcy — it’s optimizing its portfolio. By shedding weak locations, it frees up resources ahead of the proposed Albertsons merger, meaning shoppers in markets without a strong Kroger presence may see the chain exit entirely.

Which Kroger Stores Are Closing and Where?

Store closures span at least 14 states, with the heaviest concentrations in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate) published a running list of 39 locations, noting 18 had already closed by late August 2025. Below, the regional breakdown.

Kroger is concentrating closures in suburbs and inner cities where competition from Walmart, H-E-B, and Aldi squeezes margins — effectively ceding territory where it lacks scale advantages.

Kroger Closures in California and Florida

  • Specific addresses in California and Florida have not been listed publicly by Kroger, but both states appear in the affected metro list from Grocery Dive (trade publication) (Los Angeles and Miami).
  • A reported closure in Tampa-area Florida was not confirmed; only Miami is noted as affected so far.
The catch

Kroger has not published a single comprehensive list of all 60 addresses. Shoppers in affected metros should watch for store-specific signage and local news.

Kroger Closing Locations in Wisconsin

  • Five Pick ‘n Save stores in Milwaukee County are closing, Grocery Dive (trade publication) reported, with closure dates staggered through 2025 and 2026.
  • These locations are part of the broader 60-store plan and affect areas like West Allis, Greenfield, and Wauwatosa.

List of Kroger Stores Closing Near Me

What to watch

If you live in one of the 11 metro areas — Houston, Spring (TX), Milwaukee, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, or Kingsport (TN) — check the store-level closure dates. QuantoSei News (local news aggregator) tracked specific addresses in Tennessee and Kentucky.

  • Texas: 1707 W. University Drive, McKinney; 3410 Gulf Fwy, Dickinson (closed June 10, 2025) — via KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate)
  • Georgia: 2452 Morosgo Way, Atlanta (closed July 19); 11877 Douglas Road, Alpharetta (closes Aug. 16); 3479 Memorial Drive, Decatur (closes Sept. 13); 3855 Buford Highway, Brookhaven (closes Oct. 18) — via KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate)
  • Illinois: 3311 N. Sterling Ave., Peoria (closes around Aug. 2) — via KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate)
  • Indiana: 4526 W. Western Ave., South Bend; 901 Johnson St., Elkhart (early August closings) — via KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate)
  • Kentucky: 4211 S. Third St., Louisville — via QuantoSei News (local news aggregator)
  • Tennessee: 1664 East Drive, Kingsport (closes Sept. 19) — via QuantoSei News (local news aggregator)

The pattern: closures concentrate in densely populated suburbs and inner-city locations where competition from Walmart, H-E-B, and Aldi is fierce. Kroger is effectively ceding territory where it lacks scale advantages.

Who Is Buying Out Kroger Stores?

  • Kroger and Albertsons released a joint list of stores they plan to sell to satisfy antitrust regulators as part of their proposed merger, Grocery Dive (trade publication) reported.
  • These divestiture stores are in addition to the 60 closures; they will be sold to third-party operators, not simply closed.

Buyers are expected to include regional grocery chains and private equity-backed operators, but no specific buyer has been publicly named. The trade-off: Kroger reduces its footprint to meet regulatory conditions, while shoppers in divested markets may see new ownership within months.

Why Is Kroger Leaving Florida?

  • Kroger is closing Florida locations as part of the 60-store plan, with Miami specifically listed among affected metro areas, according to Grocery Dive (trade publication).
  • No other Florida cities have been confirmed, but the chain has a limited presence in the state, making a full exit possible.

Why this matters: Florida is dominated by Publix, Winn-Dixie, and Walmart. Kroger never built enough density to compete effectively, so closing a handful of stores is a clean exit rather than a retreat from a stronghold.

Who Owns Kroger and Who Are Its Biggest Shareholders?

Does Warren Buffett Own Kroger?

  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway held a significant stake in Kroger but has reduced its position in recent years, according to public filings Grocery Dive (trade publication) cited in its market analysis.
  • As of mid-2025, Berkshire is no longer among the top 10 institutional holders.

Who Is the Biggest Shareholder of Kroger?

  • The Vanguard Group and BlackRock are consistently among Kroger’s largest institutional shareholders, based on SEC filings.

The implication: Kroger’s board is under pressure from large index funds to maintain profitability — and shedding underperforming stores is a direct response to that pressure.

Timeline of Kroger Store Closures

  • Mid-2025: Kroger announces plan to close 60 underperforming stores over 18 months (KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate))
  • June 23, 2025: Wisconsin closures announced, including 5 Pick ‘n Save stores (Grocery Dive (trade publication))
  • August 26, 2025: Grocery Dive publishes detailed breakdown of affected metro areas
  • February 25, 2026: AL.com reports Kroger begins closing stores in Houston and Spring, Texas, with a deadline of April 10, 2026

Confirmed facts

  • 60 stores closing over 18 months
  • Locations in at least 14 states including TX, GA, IL, IN, WI, CO, CA, NY, DC, FL, TN, KY, MD, NC
  • Closures are underperforming assets, not bankruptcy-driven
  • Store sale list published for merger divestiture

What’s unclear

  • Full list of all 60 addresses and closure dates in one source
  • Exact layoff numbers per store
  • Whether Florida exit is complete or partial
  • Specific buyers for divested stores

What Insiders and Analysts Are Saying

“We continuously evaluate our store portfolio and closing underperforming locations is a necessary step to ensure long-term growth.”

— Kroger spokesperson, statement reported by KHOU (Houston NBC affiliate)

“This is about optimizing the portfolio ahead of the Albertsons merger, not a sign of financial distress. Kroger is shedding its weakest assets to make the combined entity more attractive to regulators.”

— Industry analyst cited by Grocery Dive (trade publication)

“The closure of the Pick ‘n Save on Miller Park Way surprised many residents who relied on the store for weekly groceries. For a lot of people, this is their only nearby option.”

— Local news report, Grocery Dive (trade publication) citing WISN (Milwaukee ABC affiliate)

Kroger’s 60-store closure plan is a surgical portfolio cleanup, not a panic move. For shoppers in affected metros, the next 18 months will bring store disappearances, potential new owners, and fewer choices in some neighborhoods. For Kroger investors, the trade-off is clear: shrink to grow, or risk being stuck with underperformers that drag down the merger’s approval chances. For workers, the unanswered question remains how many layoffs each closure will bring.

Related reading

Additional sources

al.com, ir.kroger.com, finance.yahoo.com, cheapism.com, investopedia.com, grocerydive.com, finance.yahoo.com, grocerydive.com

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Frequently asked questions

What does code 7 mean at Kroger?

Code 7 is an internal alert used at Kroger stores to signal a customer service or checkout issue. It is not related to the store closures.

What does code blue mean at Kroger?

Code blue typically indicates a medical emergency in retail settings, including Kroger. It is not a closure-related signal.

What does code green mean at a grocery store?

Code green often refers to a lost child or a missing person alert. In Kroger’s context, it is unrelated to the closure program.

Will Kroger close all its stores in Florida?

Only Miami has been confirmed so far. A full Florida exit is possible but not yet announced. Grocery Dive (trade publication) includes Miami in its affected list.

Is Kroger still profitable after closing 60 stores?

Yes. Kroger said the closures do not affect its current-year financial guidance. The plan is designed to improve overall profitability by eliminating weak locations.

Will the Kroger-Albertsons merger affect store closures?

Yes. The 60-store closure list overlaps with the merger divestiture plan. Some stores may be sold rather than closed as part of the regulatory process.

Can I still shop at a Kroger store that is closing?

Yes, until its specific closure date. After that, prescriptions are typically transferred to a nearby Kroger pharmacy. Check the store’s website for the exact last day.