Safeway Shuts its Doors

After decades of serving Burlingame citizens, the Safeway on Howard Avenue closed Saturday. The closure comes after about 12 years of discussion on demolishing the grocery store to make way for a newer, bigger Safeway and retail space.

"I think everyone's been looking forward to a new store," said Maureen Brooks, Burlingame planning manager.

As part of the project, the already-closed Walgreens next door will additionally be demolished.

While the store is closed, residents who frequent the Safeway will be forced to shop elsewhere. The next closest Safeway stores are at 525 El Camino Real in Millbrae and 860 North Delaware St. in San Mateo.

 "There's a percentage of people who are going to be very inconvenienced," one Safeway employee said, unwilling to use his name when discussing Safeway. "[But] some are excited because it's been so long that we've been trying to get a new store."

He said the current employees will be transferred to other Safeway branches while the store is under construction. Most will have the option of returning to the Burlingame Safeway once it is complete.

Brooks agreed there will be some level of inconvenience, but not enough to outweigh the benefits of the new store.

"We will have to put up with some construction," Brooks said. "But I think it will be worth it."

The city council approved the Safeway project at its Feb. 1, 2010 meeting. The project, presented by the planning committee, will span 1420-1450 Howard Ave. and 249 Primrose Rd., the current location of the Safeway and Walgreens, as well as the Wells Fargo on Primrose.

The 45,645-square-foot space will include 12,428 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 5,460 square feet of office space above. The Wells Fargo will be remodeled as part of the project. Dates for construction are still being set.