The Grocery Outlet on Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Parkrose is set to close on June 27, 2026, but the man running it is not packing up for good. Owner Don McKeever says he plans to flip the script this fall by reopening the same space as an independent store called Parkrose Grocery, keeping a neighborhood market in place even as the national discounter pulls out.
McKeever has told local leaders that Grocery Outlet's corporate arm chose not to renew the lease and that years of sluggish sales, made worse by repeated shoplifting, vandalism and other crime, pushed the store past its breaking point under the chain's model. According to KPTV, managers say nearly a dozen employees will be affected when the doors close. The move also lines up with a broader pullback by the discount chain this year, a trend noted in industry coverage.
“You can't always give up; sometimes you've got to fight to do what's right,” McKeever told OregonLive. The outlet reported that he hopes to raise roughly $2 million to renovate and reopen on the same site this fall as Parkrose Grocery. He argues that going independent will let a neighborhood-based owner invest in loss-prevention, local sourcing and tailored services in a way a distant franchise operator cannot. The same OregonLive report notes that Prosper Portland is rolling out a grants program that could provide up to $500,000 to help stores that are transitioning or trying to stay open.
Why neighbors worry about losing a grocer
For Parkrose residents, the stakes are high. The neighborhood has already lost a nearby Fred Meyer, and neighbors warn that the Grocery Outlet closure would leave very few full-service options within a reasonable drive. That has sparked food access concerns, especially for shoppers who rely on nearby stores and do not have time, money or transportation for longer trips. Council President Jamie Dunphy and other East Portland leaders have been in talks with McKeever, community groups and city partners about how to keep grocery service at the site, according to East PDX News.
Community support, fundraising and next steps
Historic Parkrose and neighborhood organizations say they are lining up fundraising and technical assistance to back McKeever's plan, with Historic Parkrose's executive director telling reporters, "we are all rooting for Don." As reported by OregonLive, Prosper Portland's Shawn Ullman said the agency is "committed to helping Don succeed in whatever way we can" while officials review potential grants and loan options.
McKeever is working against the clock. With the Grocery Outlet lease ending in late June, the success of an independent Parkrose Grocery will depend on how quickly fundraising and public support come together. If McKeever and community partners can assemble roughly $2 million in a mix of grants, loans and donations, he says he can invest in security and services designed to make the store viable under local ownership. For shoppers and staff, it is a race against the June 27 closing date, and city and neighborhood groups say they expect to share more news as plans and funding firm up over the summer.
