Kroger to sell 11 markets in S.F., Marin

It looks like the remaining Cala/Bell Markets in San Francisco will remain open, and under new ownership... From today's Chronicle,

After months of negotiation, the Kroger Co. has agreed to sell 11 Cala Foods and Bell Markets in San Francisco and Marin County to supermarket veteran Harley DeLano.

DeLano, who had been negotiating with Kroger since December, said he entered escrow Tuesday. If all goes well, the stores will be transferred to DeLano Retail Partners -- the company he runs with his son and daughter -- this year, he said.

A Kroger spokeswoman confirmed that agreement had been reached, but did not offer further comment. Neither Kroger nor DeLano would disclose the cost of the transaction.

DeLano, 69, said he has already talked to union representatives to assure them that he will keep the union intact. "We will work with the employees in the stores there already," he said. All 11 stores will remain open during the transition.

...

Although Kroger will still own the names for Cala Foods and Bell Markets, DeLano said he has the option of keeping them or changing them to something else, but has not yet decided which he will do. He noted he must still receive landlord approval to sublease the stores. [more...]

There's no mention in the article about the Cala/Bell Markets that have already closed (such as Haight/Stanyan), and whether those might be part of the transaction. I'll let you know if I find anything out.

Kroger to sell 11 markets in S.F., Marin [SFGate]
Cala leaves, political impasse arrives [SFHomeBlog]
City’s grocery stores grow increasingly rare [SFHomeBlog]
Noe Valley Residents Hunger for a Locally Owned Grocery [SFHomeBlog]
50+ units of housing to replace Cala @ Haight & Stanyan [SFHomeBlog]