Records show spike in calls to service to soon-to-be shuttered Denver grocery store

DENVER — A Denver Natural Grocers store has announced plans to close its doors later this month, citing theft and safety issues.

In a statement, Natural Grocers said despite investments in security and loss prevention strategies at the company’s Colfax Avenue and Washington Street store, the factors have “challenged their ability to operate safely and sustainably.”

The company says the store will close for good on Oct. 31. The store is set to begin a closing sale on Friday with discounts of 10% off everything.

“To see the store be gone, that would be really hard,” Brian Corbin, a frequent shopper at the store, said. “We really need it.”

Records show Denver Police have responded to the store 78 times in 2024, including 30 times for retail theft, burglary and shoplifting.

Nearby Natural Grocers on South Broadway Street and North Brighton Boulevard have each had fewer than 10 calls for service this year.

“It’s difficult on a business,” Stacey Hervey said. “You don’t blame a business for really looking at whether it’s worth it to keep open in that community when there’s so many calls for service.”

Hervey works in criminology at MSU Denver and said while most major crime is down across the United States, retail theft is up.

“If you look at the cost-benefit analysis for a criminal, going into a store is usually low risk for the criminal and high gain to be honest, even if it’s only a few items,” she said.

Records show Denver Police have also responded to the store for trespassing, auto theft, narcotics, disturbances and a stabbing in 2024.