The shell of a shuttered Safeway store at the corner of East Mexico Avenue and South Buckley Road in Aurora is becoming a growing source of ire for a coalition of irritated residents.

“I think this is a huge slap in the face from Albertson’s and Safeway to the community,” said Sunny Banka, a longtime Aurora resident and Realtor.

At issue is an alleged lack of effort by the store’s parent company, recently merged grocery powerhouse Safeway-Albertson’s, to attract a suitable commercial tenant for the closed space in east-central Aurora. In a press release, Banka, a 31-year resident of the neighborhood, claimed that Safeway-Albertson’s has consistently refused to relinquish its lease on the building in an attempt to reduce potential competition posed to a nearby Albertson’s at South Buckley Road and East Mississippi Avenue. She said that Safeway’s actions are grounded in greed and will result in increased vandalism, crime and blight in the area.

“To have a boarded-up, blighted-looking grocery store and gas station just sitting there to be grafittied and have criminal activity take place there doesn’t do anything to revitalize any neighborhood,” Banka said.

A spokesperson for Safeway-Albertson’s, however, said that the company has not actively stymied any tenant recruitment efforts made by the property owner and that it fully expects to sublease the space to another suitable business.

“We plan to sublease to another tenant,” said Kris Staaf, a spokesperson for the Safeway-Albertson’s Denver division. “We’re also going to continue to maintain that location and keep that space in good condition.”

Staaf added that there are currently no specifics on a potential timeline, but that the company is going to move as quickly as possible and that negotiations are actively moving forward.

“To have a boarded-up, blighted-looking grocery store and gas station just sitting there to be grafittied and have criminal activity take place there doesn’t do anything to revitalize any neighborhood,” Banka said.

In order to help expedite that process, Staaf said that a Safeway-Albertson’s division president and company real estate representatives met with officials from the city’s development services department as well as Mayor Steve Hogan late last month. She said that the tone of the meeting was positive.

“We had a good meeting with the city,” she said. “We’re proud to operate stores in Aurora and we’ve been a long time community partner.”

Ward II City Councilwoman Renie Peterson, who was also took part in the discussions, described the meeting in less-than-rosy terms.

“They (Safeway-Albertson’s) put us off,” Peterson said. “The owners of the Aurora Highlands have done some research on Safeway and found that they have left stores vacant and continued to pay the lease for as far out as 10 years, and as a city that’s very concerning. The city’s in kind of a weird space with this because it really is not our business to tell a grocer how they should do business, it’s just our hope that they understand that we don’t want blight in our city.”

Peterson emphasized that the city is most concerned about the safety risks associated with leaving the adjoining gas station unattended.

Safeway-Albertson’s closed the Mexico and Buckley store as well as two others in Aurora — at 16921 E. Quincy Ave. and 22675 E. Aurora Pkwy. — in June as part of a restructuring effort. In total, Safeway-Alberston’s has shut down nine stores across the state this year.

Safeway did not specify how long it has remaining in its lease at the South Buckley location, though Banka said she believes the company has about a year remaining on the lease and a five- or six-year extension option, which she expects the company to exercise. Staaf did not confirm Banka’s claim.

“Their greed is putting a community and a neighborhood subject to potential crime,” Banka said. “It’s an eyesore and they should be ashamed.”

She added that the property owners of the Aurora Highlands shopping area have been in contact with several retailers and grocers who are interested in the property, but that no businesses want to be named publicly or commit to the space until they are guaranteed a clean lease agreement.

“We have a major retailer that wants to go into the area that would revitalize the area tremendously,” Banka said. “And I don’t know that the competition issue is justification for letting them (Safeway-Albertson’s) leave the Safeway laying there blighted.”

Peterson said that she would be excited for a new grocer to step into the former Safeway footprint and that she, too, doesn’t believe any of the interested entities would pose a true commercial threat to the nearby Albertson’s. She added that Safeway told the city that the company has identified a possible subleaser for the retail space and a separate proprietor for the gas station at the South Buckley location, but has not yet made anything public or official.

Safeway did not specify how long it has remaining in its lease at the South Buckley location, though Banka said she believes the company has about a year remaining on the lease and a five- or six-year extension option, which she expects the company to exercise. Staaf did not confirm Banka’s claim.

“The people from Safeway led us to believe that they have a tenant in mind for that space, but they haven’t signed a contract yet and we have no idea who the tenant is,” Peterson said. “I would be extremely excited about the potential tenants the Aurora Highlands owners have identified, and I would say no, they actually would not be competition. I would still shop Albertson’s for their meat, and deli deals, and I would shop at this new potential grocer specifically for produce items that I would not get anywhere else.

As a Realtor, Banka added that she doesn’t believe the lack of a grocer will greatly affect home prices in the current, uber-competitive housing market, but that the sustained absence of one could cause values to plummet when demand inevitably cools.

“In the market we have right now it probably is not going to have a major impact on home values because we have such a shortage, but if the market changes and people see a vacant, dilapidated building, they’re not going to make this area their first choice to buy,” she said.

Peterson said that the city is planning on speaking with Safeway-Albertson’s at another closed-door meeting in early October.

38 replies on “Neighbors seek action on shuttered Aurora Safeway”

    1. I love it! A real estate agent complains about corporate greed out one side of her mouth and bemoans lower property values out the other. (Lower values = lower commissions)

      1. classic ad hominem argument to distract from the real issue. pathetic work my2cents. Do you work for Alberton’s corporate or Safeway corporate? Oh wait… same thing

        2. No ad hominem in pointing out hypocrisy. Her argument was sound until she adressed an ad hominem to Safeway (greed).

          No argument here; no one likes blight , but let’s fight it for the right reasons.

          1. would you like to see something that you own and paid for, such as a home, diminish in value?

          2. You make my point!
            Why call the Corp “greedy”, when we are all greedy; you greedy home owner you!

          4. Fair share? …of what?
            and if this was a discussion of fair share, who decides…you, me, the market? God I hope it’s the market.

          5. I agree, the market. I hope those that feel this is wrong, continue to abstain from shopping at Albertson’s and Safeway. Keep exercising your freedom of speech($$$) I think a Wal-mart grocery store ooh, or maybe another King Sooper’s. Rabble Rabble Rabble.

          7. Well golly. My house paid for, and in good repair, worth $186,500 county appraisal and on market value in 2006-2008, dropped to $92,000 value in 2009-2010, because of illegal aliens (living on north side of me) and all over Aurora. They decreased value of housing all through our part of Aurora, and now you complain about a vacant store that was dirty, not stocked regularly. Did you also have illegal aliens in your part of town? Did they frequent that store while living 2,3,4 families in 1 family home? Think you and Banka not telling whole story. Many of those folks self deported themselves when economy tanked, Now they are very dominant on north side of metro area. Seems like we used to read of illegals having auto problems back few years ago. I just received my notice that starting next January taxes will be based on $150,000, but I still lost 30,500 so far, if I am forced to sell in next year or so, due to age, health, and need to pay a nursing home. So I have problem in feeling empathy with you or others. My son and his family owned property over that way, lost to foreclosure due to death of his 10 year old daughter, and he was in changing jobs due to TAX CODE of this administration. Don’t worry, as a real estate agent , folks are moving here for the legal drugs now sold in Colorado.

          8. at least you have recouped from 92K upto $150K.. do not look at where you came from.. just where you are. Also, your house didn’t drop to 92k because of illegals, its because stupid gov’t allowed idiots to buy houses that weren’t worth 186.5K to buy at that price. And then when all the other houses in your neighborhood dropped to 92k.. investors bought and rented them to whoever they can .. so even that ain’t “illegals'” fault. blame the investors. besides, how can you tell?

          9. You have to be one of those who emigrated here from back east or from the coastal states. I bought my house in 1963 when I returned from Labrador, in military service. I paid the taxes and other charges for water storage and treatment, improved the roads, and watched this area grow through the years, though I was away in 1965 until 1976 when I fully retired from Service. Altura was a bump , east of Aurora, with another small town also there. I helped pay taxes and improvements, to make this area more attractive, and brought all you other folks out here, who now make life miserable with gun control, fighting fracking, and over voting the old westerners who enjoyed a quiet, more serene life style. Now we cannot use our highways and town facilities, for all the crime, fast drivers who still think they are in California and drive 20 to 30 miles faster than speed limit posted. Colfax was a pleasant street to drive in those days, and we spent many evenings with our children at facilities along it. Not any more. Nighttime now is dangerous every night with street drugs, prostitutes, and folks who like to shoot or knife each other. Now for my house, my house and others in my block was selling at those prices, with offers from folks who wanted to move here , arriving in my mail box. And I spent $28,000 during that period for new roof, new furnace, new doors and windows, of the energy saving, storage shed, storage building on back of my garage, extra large Aurora lot, and other improvements. That one year was only one in my lifetime from 1945 to present, that I got back my entire withheld Income tax, as energy improvement. Only $1,000 though. So I have said often, since. I practiced normal Democrat Economy. Spent $28,000 to save $1,000. But I lost more than that. I dropped $80,000 plus the $27,000 that I spent for improvements, and only recovered to $150,000. Those are the hard numbers, and is not new math, or common core guessing game. Do you see why I am peeved. Also those 13 bachelor (20to30 years old) from Sonoma, Mexico trashed the neighbors house, which had been bought by BACA Holding Company. These dudes did not pay the rent, they bypassed the water and electric meters, and parked 13 cars on grass in front, back, in garage, in driveway, plus the 13 cars they drove regularly. No use calling police. They came several times, but whole metro area then was sanctuary area, being the major HUB for illegals from Mexico (Tucson and Phoenix) up I25 to Denver , then spread east, west, north and south to whole USA. Now I have given you the whole picture. Neighbor across street from me, had 3 to 5 families with them, with faces changing about each month. 2 elderly Mexican grandfathers types, drove two very large Station Wagons, with platform in back making two decks, and they left for 3-4 weeks regularly, coming back and new faces showed, then leaving again, and doing it over again. Finally, when I contacted zoning (trash had accumulated so when they moved after that, it took 2 full, large truck loads just to haul trash away. Paid for by the lenders, and agent later sold house to tipper for $89,000 on location, location, location only. He had lot of repairs to do, but that was his youthful trade. Okay, do you see my peeve? I talked to my legislators and state officials, but nothing was done. Just as now, with this president.

          10. Get out before it get’s any worse than it already is Frank. So many once beautiful neighborhoods in Aurora, have plummeted into trash box classification. I know exactly what you’re talking about! Fly like the wind.

          11. Even got worse this week. Washington will now decide which neighborhoods have racism existing, though not intended, and will use Government HUD funds to ensure minorities live in every neighborhood. Actually I thought that was already in existence, since we all are minorities now in all of our neighborhoods. Only the Muslims and illegal aliens seem to be complaining there are not enough of them in each and we are not practicing Sharia Law.

          12. negative equity, less tax revenue, less desirable commercial investment opportunities, stagnant economic vitality, stagnant community growth, etc.

  2. Shame on Safeway. I think a boycott is in order. Are they using a similar tactic on the recently deserted SE Aurora location?

      1. What do you think this was the only location that closed?! Several stores throughout the Denver metro area closed. Safeway lost business because they did not take time to upgrade their brand and insisted on charging outrageous prices for a mediocre product. A boycott of Albertsons is in order and I will support it to the end! It is time for the people of Denver/Aurora to take control of what is important to them and recognize big business doesn’t always have to win. It is time for the citizens of this community to come out on top.

    2. what “tactic”? only reason why these stores remain “dark” is because there is a lengthy lease remaining that needs to be honored by tenant to the landlord.. its a business reason not to make nobody like you upset..

  3. I guess those residents protesting can goto crowdfunding and buy up the property… better yet join forces and open up a new grocery there and sign a 10 year lease.. Instead of complaining at the property, those folks should complain at themselves for driving away safeway by not patronizing it when it was there.

    1. You’ve missed the entire crux of the problem Mcs Vette. Read the article again… carefully. Nobody can open a grocery store there as long as Albertson’s-Safeway refuses to relinquish their lease. They can keep it empty for years and years… in order to “keep out the competition.” It’s a dirty game they’re playing, just like they always kept that store.. dirty and poorly stocked… that’s why they didn’t make enough money there to keep it open, btw

  4. There is no way anyone can claim that the local residents are responsible for the demise of the store, every store has a potential to make a profit with great marketing and with fair prices. That a franchise can decide to run down the value of a location by refusing to terminate a lease (because they have another store nearby) is unfair, not only to the residents but to the other business in the same location. Greed is what caused them to hire one cashier at all hours, poorly stocking the store, not caring to fix broken shelving and having expired merchandise on the shelves even after I had brought this to the attention of their manager on numerous occasions. I say SHAME ON SAFEWAY and ALBERTSONS. I will boycott shopping on any of them.

    1. I am sure if you decided to take over the remainder of the leases they are hooked with, they will gladly let you do whatever you want with the property.. is the neighborhood up for the challenge? come up with whatever amount is remaining on the lease to buy them out?

      1. A nice community center or paintball. But yea crying out loud. The local residents prefer king Soopers across the street, so yeah they really are responsible for the demise of the store, it really is that simple. It sounds like you hated Safeway, so I imagine that you probably did not shop at Safeway or Albertson’s already, so doubtful any money lost with your boycott for crying out loud really.

        1. How do you know what the local residents prefer? I live within shouting distance of the vacant lot left by Safeway. I frequented Safeway, King Soopers and Albertsons to the needs that suited me and my family. Safeway is responsible for Safeway and their business tactics. Safeway is choosing to not sublet the property to give Albertsons a competitive advantage which is called nothing but greed. Safeway decided to close their doors and in doing should lease the property out to someone who is willing to come in and provide business to the surrounding community. A vacant lot screams come in and vandalize me… Wake up! A vacant lot brings down the property values for the surrounding owners. When was the last time you stood up for something you believed in?!? It is important for people to stand up for the values they hold true and dear.

  6. Since Safeway couldn’t provide the service people wanted, it had to close? No, I believe it was because when King Soopers took over Safeway on their way to super store status they chose to cut expenses by closing some stores. They are behind in the ranking of grocery stores. Now they expect people to travel farther to buy their groceries just so they could save money by having fewer stores? They turn their backs on a neighborhood who supported them for many years. They don’t care about what their corporate greed and fear may do to that neighborhood. They choose to open the area to blight, crime, cars to race in a large empty parking lot, a place for the wrong element to collect. They are done making their money off that neighborhood so they don’t care! I believe that they think people will continue to shop their ‘brand’ since there is another store near by and people will get used to shopping the “other” store if they don’t allow a different store to open up in their empty space. It’s like they are saying, “We only care about ourselves and we are afraid of competition so we are not going to allow another food store to open up in our empty space. We’ll wait until people are in the habit of traveling a distance to our other store then maybe the competition won’t take our customers. If I lived in that area and Safeway takes their ball home and leaves me hanging…..I’d make sure since I need to go farther for my shopping, I’d definitely go farther…to any other store but theirs. This is another example of a big corporation says “We don’t really care about our customers…. just our bottom line.” Safeway is afraid of competition so they choose to withhold from the neighborhood a different store who can/will supply food? Too bad…so sad…for Safeway. They should be VERY embarrassed!!

    1. Why is Albertson-Safeway responsible for crime and social blight in the area? Perhaps the city, citizens and parents should assume some portion of keeping the community clean and safe.

  7. I shopped in the Safeway at Buckley and Mexico in the 1990’s before it declined into a dirty and poorly stocked hideous mess. It was very sad to see it happen. I was worried about the store several years ago and the clerk told me it was lucrative because it sold gasoline. Safeway decided to stop offering a decent gas price with their rewards card so that was probably its ultimate demise. The Albertson’s about 1/2 mile north is also pretty disgusting, as is the King Soopers 1/2 mile south. Aurora has an image problem and this situation sure can’t help.

  8. About 10 years ago there was an Albertsons on Peoria and Mississippi in Aurora, CO and right across the street from that very location was a Safeway. Albertsons closed that location and it remained a vacant lot until just this year. It was a good decade before they allowed someone to move in and revitalize/remodel the shopping center. Coincidence I think NOT!!!! The same tactics that they used then they are using now. Shame on Safeway and Albertsons for being so deceitful but your lies are now coming to the light. Now that my eyes have been opened they shall never be closed again…. Live and learn big business only cares about big business and they could give a rats a$$ as to what happens to a community as long as their coffers are filled be d@mned to the consumer. Color me aware! If the entire system isn’t already out to get you, your local neighborhood market will.

    1. I think city of aurora must be involved in planning of what to build and how it must look for the sake of residents and citizens . Were are our taxes money? I wish that Fathers of Aurora get involved in this discussions and they has money to do our town beautiful, not only cover it with orange cones.!

  9. I would like to do something about this problem, but the people that are sent out to pass this flyer are trashing my flower beds, that makes me angry.they are crushing the flowers. so if you want some bleeding hearts, train them to walk around plants, to respect our property. Thank you

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