Tracy Save Mart Closure Will Leave Food Desert In Its Wake
TRACY (CBS13) — A Tracy supermarket is closing its doors and in its wake it will leave a section of the city with no grocery store options.
There are several open spaces by this Save Mart on Tracy Boulevard. Save Mart Corporation says this store was not performing well, so it decided to close it. But for loyal customers, this is a huge loss, as there is no other supermarket this side of town.
Jason Krikava has stood by and watched other stores leave the East Tracy shopping center. Losing the Save Mart next week will limit his options where he can go and what he can get.
"I work at the local Wendy's and across the street is a Mi Pueblo, so I can go there, but I prefer Save Mart brand milk," he said.
The store's closure will put homeowners more than a mile away from the nearest supermarket, creating what's known as a food desert.
The news shocked many longtime customers like Gina Schnabel.
"Especially since Save Mart put up such a huge fight for the Winco and the Walmart not to be put in here, so I thought they'd be here forever," she said.
The city's economic development department says it's recruiting other supermarkets to the area. A recent city survey says people in the area want a Trader Joe's, but the city says the company said no, since the space was too big for its store.
Save Mark owns the entire shopping center. The corporate office says it's working with the city to attract a new tenant soon, but hasn't signed one yet. It hopes to sign another grocery store to the center, but there is no guarantee.
The loss is a big concern for a city trying to avoid a loss of fresh and affordable food for a population needing it.
The store is slated to close on Aug. 29.