The QFC supermarket located in downtown Des Moines will be closing its doors on May 25.


“It is sad that they are closing but it’s not entirely unexpected,” said Mayor Dave Kaplan. 
Mayor Kaplan explained that when Kroger took over QFC 16 years ago, they had contemplated closing the downtown store, but instead opted to close the Midway QFC.

The property the QFC stands on is split between two owners. One is local and the other is a family or family trust back in New York.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, the lease actually belongs to Albertsons and not to QFC directly. That lease is up in a few months, and at least one of the property owners raised their portion of the rent.

“My understanding is that QFC is making arrangements to try and absorb all the employees from that store and relocate them in other stores,” said Mayor Kaplan. “We greatly appreciate that.”

Amanda Ip, QFC spokesperson, confirmed that all the employees that wished to continue working for QFC have already been placed so no one will be losing their job.

“All the employees will have new homes once the store is closed,” said Ip.

Although the lease is complicated Ip said it was not a factor in the company’s decision to close.

“The upkeep of the whole store, coupled in with the fact that there is competition just a mile down the road, makes the store not economically feasible for us,” said Ip.

QFC operates another supermarket at 17847 1st Ave. S. in Normandy Park.

“We know that people are concerned about the fact that they’re losing a convenient store nearby,” said Mayor Kaplan. “In terms of what’s going to happen it will be entirely up to the two property owners and what they decide.”

Kaplan pointed out that Des Moines is not without other grocery stores. There are still two Safeway stores located on 216th and Pacific Highway South and 272nd and Pacific Highway South.

Kaplan stressed that although it’s not clear what the future holds for that property, the city is carefully monitoring everything. The city is hoping to see a proposal in the next few months so they can get a better sense of which direction the property is going to go.


“It’s an important piece to the Marina District in terms of our entrance to the downtown area, and we’re invested in making sure whatever happens will be in the best interest of the community,” said Kaplan.

(Editor’s Note: Click on ‘Opinion’ for the reaction of longtime Des Moines columnist Earline Byers.