Grocery chain giant to fill longtime vacant space in South San Francisco

(KRON) -- A longtime vacant space on El Camino Real in South San Francisco will not be empty much longer. According to city officials, construction for a Safeway at 190 El Camino Real in South San Francisco is set to begin "within the coming weeks."

Customers can expect the grocery store in the summer of 2026, a Safeway spokesperson told KRON4. The Safeway will be 68,000 square feet, according to the city.

With the addition of the El Camino Real store in SSF, there will be four Safeways within a six-mile radius in that area of the Peninsula: three in SSF and one in Millbrae. KRON4 asked if Safeway plans on closing any of these nearby locations.

"As with any part of our business, we continue to evaluate our operations and make changes to best serve the community," Safeway said in a statement.

The private developer of this project, Steelwave, is also developing a science campus and housing complex in addition to the Safeway. According to the city, the science campus will be 750,000 square feet. Steelwave plans on building 183 multifamily homes, of which 15% will be affordable housing.

That area is marked "21" in green on the map below.

City officials said construction for the Safeway will take about 18-20 months.

“This project represents not only an enhancement of local shopping options but also a commitment to economic growth and job creation in the city of South San Francisco,” SSF Mayor James Coleman said in a news release. “This new development will provide residents with long-awaited access to essential groceries and services, fostering convenience and supporting our community's needs.”

In addition to the upcoming opening of this Safeway, South San Francisco is also planning to welcome California burger chain giant In-N-Out. The grocery store and fast food restaurant are about 1.5 miles from each other -- both located on El Camino Real.