Taxpayer Millions Couldn't Stop Seven Save A Lot Grocery Stores From Going Dark In Crime-Ridden Chicago
Save A Lot shuttered seven locations across Chicago's crime-ridden South and West sides over the weekend, once again exposing the dysfunction of a metro area run by unhinged progressives. City officials poured millions of dollars into the grocery outlets in hopes of improving food access, only to watch the stores remain unprofitable amid persistent theft.
Local outlet ABC 7 reports "frustration, anger, and concern" among the community as Save A Lot shuttered seven stores on Saturday, with many residents saying this would reduce their access to food.
The outlet noted:
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Yellow Banana had a $26 million redevelopment agreement with the city of Chicago and received more than $13 million in taxpayer financing to renovate and reopen Save A Lot locations. The rest of the funding came from federal grants and loans.
Despite the debate on X over whether the seven locations qualified as "government grocery stores," they were privately owned and operated but supported with taxpayer funding. Even with public backing, the stores failed to turn a profit. Theft was likely a major factor in the shutdowns, although the operator cited broader financial pressures and reductions in SNAP benefits.
Add Save A Lot to the growing list of retailers reducing their exposure to Chicago, alongside Walgreens, Aldi, and Walmart. Walgreens and Aldi explicitly cited theft, burglaries, and violent incidents in certain closures, while Walmart and Save A Lot pointed more broadly to persistent losses and financial headwinds.
The accelerating retail exodus suggests Chicago's progressive governing model enforced by City Hall is backfiring. Without basic public safety and a commercially viable operating environment, progressives risk even broader food and pharmacy deserts in low-income areas as businesses want no part of lawless neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, socialist politicians gaining power at the local level are promoting taxpayer-funded supermarkets and "free food for everyone." Yet history offers little evidence that government-run grocery models can remain efficient, financially sustainable, or responsive to consumers without persistent subsidies. But, of course, these politicans pitch 'this time is different' ...
Tyler Durden Mon, 07/27/2026 - 19:40
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
Save A Lot shuttered seven locations across Chicago's crime-ridden South and West sides over the weekend, once again exposing the dysfunction of a metro area run by unhinged progressives. City officials poured millions of dollars into the grocery outlets in hopes of improving food access, only to watch the stores remain unprofitable amid persistent theft.
Local outlet ABC 7 reports "frustration, anger, and concern" among the community as Save A Lot shuttered seven stores on Saturday, with many residents saying this would reduce their access to food.
The outlet noted:
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Yellow Banana had a $26 million redevelopment agreement with the city of Chicago and received more than $13 million in taxpayer financing to renovate and reopen Save A Lot locations. The rest of the funding came from federal grants and loans.
Despite the debate on X over whether the seven locations qualified as "government grocery stores," they were privately owned and operated but supported with taxpayer funding. Even with public backing, the stores failed to turn a profit. Theft was likely a major factor in the shutdowns, although the operator cited broader financial pressures and reductions in SNAP benefits.
Add Save A Lot to the growing list of retailers reducing their exposure to Chicago, alongside Walgreens, Aldi, and Walmart. Walgreens and Aldi explicitly cited theft, burglaries, and violent incidents in certain closures, while Walmart and Save A Lot pointed more broadly to persistent losses and financial headwinds.
The accelerating retail exodus suggests Chicago's progressive governing model enforced by City Hall is backfiring. Without basic public safety and a commercially viable operating environment, progressives risk even broader food and pharmacy deserts in low-income areas as businesses want no part of lawless neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, socialist politicians gaining power at the local level are promoting taxpayer-funded supermarkets and "free food for everyone." Yet history offers little evidence that government-run grocery models can remain efficient, financially sustainable, or responsive to consumers without persistent subsidies. But, of course, these politicans pitch 'this time is different' ...
Tyler Durden Mon, 07/27/2026 - 19:40
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
