Kroger’s store-closing plan is still underway, and shoppers in several states will see more locations disappear before 2026 is over.
The grocery giant announced in June 2025 that it planned to close approximately 60 stores over an 18-month period after determining that the locations were not delivering “sustainable results.” Kroger never published a complete list of every affected store, so many closures have emerged gradually through local announcements. Recent reporting has identified at least 39 Kroger-family stores that have already closed, while additional locations now have closing dates later this year.
At Least 39 Stores Have Already Closed
Kroger operates under far more names than the familiar blue Kroger sign, which can make the scope of the closures easy to miss. The company owns or operates banners including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Pick ‘n Save, QFC, Fry’s Food and Drug, and several others.
An August review found at least 39 closed locations across nine Kroger banners since the company announced the restructuring plan. Kroger had 2,697 supermarkets across 35 states as of early 2026, so the closures represent a relatively small part of its overall footprint, but the impact can be much more noticeable for neighborhoods that lose a nearby grocery store.
There is also no reliable public list showing exactly which stores make up the remainder of the roughly 60-location plan. That means reports claiming that a specific number of unannounced stores are definitely next should be treated carefully. Kroger has continued confirming individual closures as decisions become public rather than releasing one nationwide schedule.
A Michigan Kroger Will Close September 30
One of the next confirmed closures is the Kroger at G3288 Corunna Road in Flint Township, Michigan, inside Carmen Plaza. The store is scheduled to close permanently on September 30, 2026.
Kroger has said employees affected by the closure will have opportunities to transfer to other locations. Shoppers will also still have another Kroger nearby at Corunna and Dye roads, so the company is not leaving the Flint market entirely. Kroger’s website currently continues to list the Carmen Plaza location and its fuel center while the store remains open.
For regular customers, the change could involve more than simply finding a new place to buy groceries. People who use a particular store for fuel points, money services, pickup orders, or other services may want to check which nearby Kroger location offers the same options before the closing date.
Another Kroger Is Closing in Kentucky This Fall
Kroger has also confirmed that its Commerce Plaza store at 2308 Highway 144 in Owensboro, Kentucky, will close on or before November 4, 2026.
This closure comes with an important difference: Kroger is preparing to open a larger Marketplace store elsewhere in Owensboro. The company has said employees at the closing location will be offered opportunities at its other area stores, and Kroger currently operates two additional Owensboro locations on Starlite Drive and Frederica Street.
The Commerce Plaza location also contains a Kroger Pharmacy. Customers who regularly fill prescriptions there should pay attention to any notices they receive before the store closes and confirm where their prescriptions will be handled afterward. That is particularly important for people using Medicare Part D, Medicaid, or private health insurance, since pharmacy networks and prescription drug costs can vary by insurance plan. The location’s current Kroger listing includes prescription refills, vaccinations, and pharmacy services.
A Ralphs Store in California Is Also Leaving
Another Kroger-owned store expected to disappear this fall is the Ralphs Fresh Fare at Westcliff Plaza in Newport Beach, California.
The Irvine Company announced in April that the Ralphs location at 1150 Irvine Avenue would close at the end of its lease term in the fall. A month later, the shopping-center owner announced that Whole Foods Market would take over the space. The Ralphs store remains listed as open as of August 24.
That situation illustrates why Kroger’s closure story is not simply a list of communities losing access to groceries. Some locations are being replaced by another supermarket, while others are closing as Kroger shifts shoppers to nearby stores or invests in larger locations elsewhere.
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Why Kroger Is Closing Stores
When Kroger revealed the plan in 2025, the company said the approximately 60 stores being targeted were not producing sustainable results. It recorded a $100 million impairment charge connected with the closures and said shutting the locations should provide a modest financial benefit.
Kroger also said it intended to reinvest the savings into the customer experience and would offer positions at other stores to employees working at affected locations. The company did not characterize the closures as a nationwide retreat from physical grocery stores.
Its more recent financial results reinforce that broader picture. Kroger reported a 1% increase in identical sales excluding fuel during the first quarter of 2026, while adjusted e-commerce sales grew 19%. The company continues investing in both stores and online grocery shopping even while eliminating locations that it considers weaker performers.
Store Closures Can Affect the Household Budget
For shoppers, losing a convenient supermarket can have a financial effect that goes beyond Kroger itself. A different grocery store may have different prices, weekly promotions, store-brand products, fuel rewards, delivery fees, and credit-card rewards, all of which can change a family’s monthly grocery budget.
Customers who depend on SNAP or EBT benefits should also check the payment options at whichever store they plan to use next. Kroger’s current Owensboro listings, for example, indicate that its local stores accept SNAP/EBT, but services such as pickup and delivery differ by location.
The same applies to people using grocery delivery because of age, disability, transportation costs, or work schedules. Comparing delivery fees, minimum orders, loyalty discounts, and grocery prices can matter when choosing a replacement store, particularly for households already trying to lower monthly expenses.
Pharmacy customers have another consideration. If a closing grocery store includes a pharmacy, moving prescriptions is not always just a matter of convenience. People with health insurance, Medicare prescription coverage, or high recurring medication costs may want to verify that their replacement pharmacy participates in their insurance network before transferring ongoing prescriptions.
Kroger Is Still Opening and Investing in Stores
The closure plan can sound larger than it is when viewed without the rest of Kroger’s strategy. The company continues to operate nearly 2,700 supermarkets and is investing in new stores, remodels, e-commerce, and other parts of its business while closing selected locations.
That makes the current restructuring different from a retailer shutting down hundreds of stores because the overall business is disappearing. Kroger is instead trying to consolidate weaker locations while spending money in markets and formats where it expects stronger returns.
The company is also preparing to report its second-quarter 2026 financial results on September 11, which could provide another update on its operating strategy and financial performance. Kroger has not said that a complete list of the remaining store closures will be released with those results.
More Closure Announcements Could Still Come
The biggest uncertainty for shoppers is that Kroger has never identified all of the roughly 60 locations at once. With at least 39 stores already reported closed and additional locations scheduled to shut down this fall, the restructuring is clearly not finished.
That does not mean every Kroger, Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Mariano’s, King Soopers, or other Kroger-owned store is at risk. Customers who hear rumors about a local store should look for confirmation from Kroger, the shopping-center owner, a union, or credible local reporting rather than assuming it is part of the closure plan.
For shoppers near one of the confirmed locations, checking alternatives before the final day can avoid last-minute problems with grocery pickup, prescriptions, SNAP benefits, fuel points, or other services. For everyone else, more individual announcements may still emerge as Kroger works through the remainder of its approximately 60-store plan before the end of 2026.
