Haggen Food & Pharmacy is closing its remaining stores in Arizona, California and Nevada to focus efforts on maintaining 37 successful stores in Washington and Oregon. The decision comes two weeks after the Bellingham, Wash.-based chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amidst an unsuccessful expansion that involved acquiring 146 Albertson’s, Vons and Pavilions stores late last year. The grocer closed 27 of its stores last month, 16 of which were in Los Angeles, including Valley locations in Simi Valley, Newbury Park and Santa Clarita. Pending approval from the bankruptcy court, Haggen will close nearly 100 additional outlets. Of the 67 remaining stores in California, nine will close in the Valley cities of Burbank, Thousand Oaks, Palmdale, Woodland Hills and Westlake Village. The company announced Thursday it will focus its efforts on rebuilding the brand and strengthening the 37 grocery stores and one stand-alone pharmacy in Washington and Oregon. Employees at closing stores will be given a 60 day notice regarding pending closures. “Although this has been a difficult process and experience, we will remain concentrated in the Pacific Northwest where we began,” said John Clougher, chief executive of Haggen Pacific Northwest, in a statement.
