Fred Meyer On Francis To CLOSE In January - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

LETTER FROM FRED MEYER TO KHQ: I wanted to let you know that we announced to our employees  that we are going to close the Francis Fred Meyer store on January 31.

This is a very tough decision and one we do not make lightly. It has been nearly a decade since we closed a store. The reason we are doing it this time is simple economics: we were unable to re-negotiate a lease with our landlord that would allow us to continue to be profitable.

This is in no way a reflection of the employees or the customers. In fact, the Francis store has some of the most engaged and strongest employees of all our 133 stores, and we are very proud of them. Each of these 167 employees will be offered a position in other Fred Meyer stores in the Spokane area, or elsewhere if that's their preference. No one will lose their job, and they will all retain their current seniority and pay status.

As background, the Francis store opened in 1975, and is now one of four Fred Meyer stores in the Spokane area plus one in Coeur d'Alene.  At 138,500 square feet, it currently employs 167 people.