In early January, Safeway announced that it planned to close its Webster Street store in San Francisco’s Fillmore District in March after 40 years. Now, Safeway has reversed course, at least temporarily: The store will remain open through early 2025, according to a press release from SF Mayor London Breed’s office on Monday.

“We have decided to extend the closing date to January 2025 to give the community and the City more time to establish a transition plan,” Safeway said in a statement.

The decision came after Breed led discussions with Safeway and the property’s new owner, Align Real Estate, on how to keep the only major grocery store in the neighborhood open while the site’s future is being determined, according to the press release. Align Real Estate intends to eventually build a mixed-use development in the space, with housing and commercial retail. 

“The Webster Street Safeway is more than a grocery store — it serves as a space that brings together and builds community for the Fillmore neighborhood, which is home to many senior citizens and families,” said Breed in the press release. “… I appreciate Safeway for being a good community partner to San Francisco.”

“I am thankful that Safeway has listened to the hundreds of community members who demanded they reverse plans to close a critical location to so many of our vulnerable community members,” Preston said in a press release on Monday.

Following concerns about public safety in the area around the Webster Street Safeway, Breed also has directed the SF Police Department to commit additional resources to the store.