PG County Safeway Warehouse Closing In August; 520 To Lose Jobs

UPPER MARLBORO, MD -- Albertsons Cos., the Boise, Idaho, parent company of the Safeway grocery stores, will be closing its Upper Marlboro distribution center in August, resulting in the loss of 520 jobs, according to news reports. The company made the announcement in a Wednesday, Jan. 29, filing with the State of Maryland.

Once the distribution center at 16020 Leeland Road closes its doors, Albertsons Cos. will begin supplying D.C. and Baltimore-area stores from its Pennsylvania distribution center, according to the Washington Business Journal. The company will then market the distribution center for sale after it's closed.

Christine Wilcox, Albertsons’ general vice president of communications, told WBJ no store closures in the Baltimore or Washington areas are planned at this time.

"We are deeply disturbed to have learned of the Albertsons Companies announced intention to close its Leland Road facility and move jobs to Pennsylvania," David Iannucci, president and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, said in a statement. "For the men and women who have worked there, we know that this news is heartbreaking. We urge Albertsons to reconsider this decision, just as their predecessor reconsidered a similar decision in 2016."

Iannucci said PGCEDC has reached out to the unions representing the workers at the Upper Marlboro plant to discussion what can be done to ensure financial and job security for the employees.

The Teamsters Local 730 and 639 unions represent the employees at the Upper Marlboro distribution center.

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Safeway parent will lay off 520 in Prince George’s County