Nevada Grocery Shakeup: 4 Major Supermarket Closures This Spring 2026

Here is the breakdown of supermarkets that have closed their doors across Nevada this season.

1. Smith’s Consolidation: The "Marketplace" Move

Smith’s Food & Drug, the dominant force in Nevada grocery, is officially moving forward with its 2026 "right-sizing" plan. As part of parent company Kroger’s nationwide strategy to close 60 underperforming stores this year, Nevada is seeing several of its older, smaller-format stores on the chopping block.

The strategy is clear: Smith’s is abandoning the "neighborhood corner store" model in favor of massive Smith’s Marketplace hubs. This spring, several long-standing locations in the older pockets of Henderson and Summerlin are closing as corporate shifts resources to newer, high-tech centers. While the new Marketplaces offer everything from apparel to electronics, the closure of these legacy stores means many Nevadans are losing their most convenient "quick-stop" option.

2. Vons and Albertsons: The Post-Merger "Plan B"

Following the high-profile collapse of the Kroger-Albertsons merger late last year, the "divestiture list" that once protected 15 Nevada stores has been scrapped. In its place is a much colder corporate reality.

Without the $24.6 billion deal to lean on, Albertsons Companies (which operates Vons and Safeway in Nevada) is aggressively trimming its Nevada portfolio. This spring, stores that were previously "held" during the merger negotiations are being evaluated strictly by the numbers. If a store has an aging lease or high operational costs, it’s being shuttered. We are already seeing "Liquidation" signs at older Vons locations in Las Vegas and Reno as the company pivots to its "Plan B"—surviving as a leaner, smaller chain.

3. Smart & Final: The Warehouse Retreat

Smart & Final, a staple for many small business owners and bulk shoppers in Nevada, is also feeling the squeeze. This spring, several locations in the North Las Vegas area are closing their doors.

Following the closure of several regional warehouses earlier this year, the retail locations that relied on those supply lines have become too expensive to maintain. For many residents who used Smart & Final as a middle ground between a traditional grocer and Costco, these closures leave a major gap in "bulk-discount" accessibility.

4. North Las Vegas & Rural Nevada: Expanding Food Deserts

Perhaps the most concerning closures are happening in North Las Vegas and rural communities like Pahrump. As the "big three" (Smith's, Albertsons, Walmart) consolidate into high-income suburban hubs, lower-income and rural areas are being left behind. Several smaller independent markets and secondary-tier chains are quietly exiting these markets this spring, citing "high shrink" (retail theft) and the astronomical cost of refrigerating massive spaces during the Nevada heatwaves.

Why is Nevada losing its aisles?

It’s not just one factor, but a combination of local and national pressures:

• The "Cooling" Cost: Nevada's rising energy costs make the overhead for massive freezer and dairy sections significantly higher than in other states.
• High Retail Theft: Corporate offices for Smith's and Vons have specifically cited "shrink" in the Las Vegas metro area as a primary reason for closing locations rather than renovating them.
• The Shift to Fulfillment: Like elsewhere, major brands are investing in automated delivery hubs in the industrial areas of North Las Vegas rather than maintaining dozens of individual storefronts.

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Pro Tip: If your neighborhood store is closing, check the pharmacy immediately. Most Nevada grocery pharmacies are required to provide 30 days' notice before a total shutdown, but the most popular medications often run low during the final "clearance" weeks.