We need more than one supermarket in Tahoe City.
Safeway thinks otherwise; they want to sell their previous location with a deed restriction so it cannot be a supermarket.
What’s Happening
Safeway/Albertsons is trying to sell their old location in Tahoe City with deed restriction that will prevent another supermarket from using that space.
Despite having multiple offers for the property, they seek a buyer that will agree to placing a deed restriction on the property that would block another grocery store from opening there.
If this goes through, Tahoe City could be stuck like this — one store, limited options — for decades. A single supermarket barely suffices for locals, let alone the vast, and growing, number of tourists who visit our community.
Why it Matters
If you live or work here, you already know:
the store cannot keep up with demand
the store cannot provide the variety expected by locals, let alone an international consumer base
they have monopoly pricing
workers wages are non-competitive
This affects locals, employees and pretty much anyone who is in Tahoe City.
Blocking another grocery store from opening here is a bullying maneuver, but it is who they are and how they do business.
Safeway/Albertsons is doing this all over the West.
Community input matters. If you care about grocery access and the future of Tahoe City, take a moment to share your perspective. If this doesn’t sit right with you, you’re not alone.
Your input helps highlight how this issue impacts the Tahoe City community — and why it’s something people should be paying attention to. Tell us more about yourself.
You can also submit a complaint to the California Attorney General.
It sounds like a lot, but it honestly takes a couple minutes — and we’ve included some language below to make it easy.
(Copy/Paste):
Company: Safeway / Albertsons
Address: 5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588
I am a resident/visitor of Tahoe City, CA and am submitting a concern regarding potential anti-competitive practices.
Safeway/Albertsons has owned the property at 850 N Lake Blvd in Tahoe City for over a decade. There is concern that the property may be sold with a deed restriction preventing another grocery store from operating at that location.
If implemented, this could limit competition and leave Tahoe City with only one major grocery store. The nearest alternatives are in Truckee (approximately 13.7 miles away) and Kings Beach (approximately 9.2 miles away, also a Safeway).
As a small mountain town with significant seasonal demand, Tahoe City already experiences shortages of essential goods such as milk and produce. Limiting future grocery competition may further impact availability, pricing, and access for residents, workers, and visitors.
This issue affects the entire community, including year-round residents and the large number of visitors who rely on local grocery access.
Share Your Perspective.
Your input helps paint a real picture of how this is affecting Tahoe City — especially from the people who live and deal with it every day.