Grocery Outlet, a California-based chain with more than 70 locations in Washington state, has announced it will be closing some stores nationwide.

The California-based retailer said it plans to close 36 locations across the United States after expanding too quickly in recent years, company leaders said during a March 4 earnings call.

Grocery Outlet operates more than 500 stores across 16 states, concentrated heavily on the West Coast. Washington has the second highest number of Grocery Outlet locations as a state, following California, including one that opened just three months ago in Belfair.

USA TODAY confirmed with Gordon Brothers, which assisted with Big Lots bankruptcy in 2025, that Grocery Outlet is closing stores in six states — California, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Why is Grocery Outlet closing stores?

Grocery Outlet executives said during a March 4 earnings call that the company plans to close 36 locations after expanding too quickly in recent years.

During the call, Grocery Outlet President and CEO Jason Potter, who joined the company just over a year ago, said the retailer's fourth quarter results were "unacceptable," and there is "more work to do than we expected."

In 2025, the grocery retailer opened 42 new stores and closed five. By the end of the year, the company had 570 stores across 16 states, per the call.

According to Potter, the bargain grocery store analyzed its portfolio and ultimately decided to close 36 locations, 24 of which are in the eastern United States and represent about 30% of the region’s stores.

"We are not fully exiting any state, and we believe we have a meaningful opportunity to grow in the east over the long term," Potter said. "However, it's clear now that we expanded too quickly, and these closures are a direct correction."

Potter added that the grocery retailer’s remaining 51 stores in the eastern U.S. have been profitable and ended the fourth quarter with a 3.3% increase in sales. The closures, Potter said, will improve the company’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation to about $12 million.

Where are the Grocery Outlet stores in Washington?

There are around 70 Grocery Outlets in Washington state, including many in the metro Seattle area to Spokane and the Vancouver area near the Oregon border. Kitsap County is home to four Grocery Outlet locations, as well as one in North Mason that opened in December 2025.

Bremerton: 4320 Wheaton Way

Kingston: 10978 Highway 104

Port Orchard: 1730 SE Mile Hill Dr.

Silverdale: 9451 Silverdale Way NW