Seattle Safeway’s Closed Door Draws City Violation Amid Theft Concerns

SEATTLE, Wash. — Safeway‘s efforts to combat rampant shoplifting have ignited scrutiny from city officials after they closed one of their entrances as a theft deterrent. Located at 8340 15th Ave NW in Seattle‘s Crown Hill neighborhood, the store faces a notice of violation for this decision.

Longtime shopper Gretchen, who preferred not to share her last name, expressed her frustration with the ongoing issue. “I have seen people just blatantly carry stuff out,” she said. “They have to fight it somehow. It’s been such an egregious problem for so long that I don’t know that they have a lot of options.”

In response to a complaint, the city informed Safeway that it must adhere to its operating agreement, which mandates that both entrances remain open during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. Code enforcement officials emphasized the necessity of maintaining proper access for customers.

Al Rosenthal, owner of the parking lot used by Safeway customers, noted that while one door is closed, the other remains available for emergencies. “They’ve closed the corner door, but the door that’s right by the parking lot is left open. The store director has told me he has to very frequently go out and ask homeless to not sleep in front of that door, because it would be blocking the emergency exit,” Rosenthal explained.

To tackle theft, Safeway has remodeled the store, implementing fencing and a one-way gate at the entrance still in use. Liquor and high-value items have been repositioned to the center aisle, requiring customers to make purchases there before accessing the rest of the store.

Mary Marasco, a regular shopper at the Crown Hill Safeway, believes the store’s measures are necessary. “I think the city is wrong. I think [the door] should be closed so that they don’t have all the shoplifters. And if the shoplifters aren’t going in there, it protects the customers too,” Marasco stated. “People are stealing things, and they are stealing stuff that’s not cheap. The store’s got to pay for it, so they raise their prices.”

A spokesperson for Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections, which issued the violation notice, indicated that Safeway may need to apply for a revision to their initial permit to review the design change. If the store fails to comply with existing land use codes, it could incur fines.

Safeway officials have requested a review, maintaining that the door is technically still available for use and arguing that no violation exists. The city has stated that any additional information from Safeway will be taken into account, with a decision expected next month.

Rosenthal opined on the situation, suggesting a collaborative approach. “What they should do is tell the city, ‘You fix the shoplifting problem and we’ll open both doors,’” he advised.