What's Going On With a Long-Vacant Albertson's in Chula Vista?
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City approves plan to subdivide shopping center, opening door for potential new tenants after more than a decade.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — For more than a decade, a vacant former Albertson’s in Chula Vista’s San Miguel Ranch has stood as an eyesore and a source of frustration for neighbors.
The grocery store closed in 2014, and since then, the large building in the San Miguel Ranch Shopping Center has remained empty, leaving what many describe as a noticeable gap in the community.
“When the supermarket went, that was really sad and disappointing to see,” said Wanda Everett, who lives nearby.
Everett said many neighbors have long wondered why no new business ever moved in.
“I understand it’s a business decision, you have to go,” she said. “We’re surprised it’s been vacant for so long. I would’ve thought someone else would’ve moved in before now.”
When CBS 8 reached out to city leaders to find out what’s been holding up redevelopment, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said multiple companies have shown interest in the site over the years.
“We’ve had many different companies that have looked at it.” —Chula Vista Mayor John McCann
However, even after the store closed, a lingering lease agreement and restrictions tied to Albertson’s prevented another grocery store from opening in the space. McCann said that it is no longer an issue, and CBS 8 confirmed with Albertson's corporate that their lease at the site was terminated in April 2024.
“The idea of just having a grocery and being able to hop in your car and travel just a couple blocks, it’s a place where a lot of people can have jobs, and it really would activate this center,” he said.
Now, there’s a significant update that could move redevelopment forward.
Brian White | April 6, 2026 | CBS8 News
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