Local Vons and Albertsons stores may be closing in Santa Barbara County along with 61 other locations across the state.
The Vons at 163 S. Turnpike Road in Goleta and the Albertsons at 1500 North H St. in Lompoc are among the locations set to be sold if a merger between Kroger and Albertsons goes through.
Bloomberg reported this week that the Kroger CEO notified employees at the affected stores that the locations will become C&S Wholesale Grocers and that workers will maintain employment with C&S, if the merger goes through.
“Both C&S and Kroger have each committed that no frontline workers will lose their jobs and no stores will close as a result of the merger,” an Albertsons spokesperson said in a statement sent to Noozhawk. “Furthermore, associates will also continue to receive the competitive wages and benefits that they do today, maintaining their pay, health and wellness plans, and all collective bargaining agreements where they are in place.”
The Federal Trade Commission is challenging the merger, claiming it would lead to higher grocery prices and potentially negatively affect workers.
Lompoc lost a Vons in 2021 at 729 North H St. The location is now home to a Boot Barn and Aldi.
Shoppers can still find a few Vons and Albertsons locations throughout Santa Barbara County:
- Carpinteria has an Albertsons at 1018 Casitas Pass Road.
- Goleta has Albertsons locations at 7127 Hollister Ave. and 5801 Calle Real.
- Santa Barbara has a Vons at 2010 Cliff Drive.
- Santa Barbara has a (Vons) Pavilion at 1040 Coast Village Road.
- Buellton has an Albertsons at 222 E. Hwy. 246.
- Orcutt has an Albertsons at 1120 E. Clark Ave.
- Santa Maria has a Vons at 817 E. Main St.
- Santa Maria has an Albertsons at 2320 S Broadway.
