<p>Albertsons is planning to close up to 26 stores along the western, northwestern, and southwestern regions of the U.S. by February 20, according to Boise Weekly.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Twelve stores across Southern California, including Long Beach, Canyon Country, Chula Vista, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, Monrovia, Moorpark, Ontario, San Diego, Valencia, and Whittier, and eleven stores across Washington, Oregon, and Nevada, and as well as stores in western Idaho will be shutdown because of underperforming sales, said spokespersons for their respective divisions, according to Orange County Register and the Albany Democrat-Herald. Three of the company's Idaho stores will also be changing ownership, including one store in Burley which will be converted into a Stokes Fresh Food Market grocery store. Also, there are additional closures of two Las Vegas Albertson's stores and New Albertson's-owned stores: 2 ACME stores in Pennsylvania, and 2 Shaws locations in Maryland, Chris Wilcox Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs for Albertsons tells AndNowUKnow. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> “To ensure the overall strength of the entire company, it is occasionally necessary to close stores that are not meeting company goals in order to reinvest in the remaining store base,” said Lilia M. Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Southern California Division. “While the decision to close a store is difficult – given the impact on associates and customers – Albertsons has a responsibility to do what is best for the long-term growth and success of the company as a whole.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> The closings will give Albertsons the opportunity to reinvest and build a stronger division, Rodriguez added. After the closings, the company will have 181 remaining stores in Southern California and 104 remaining stores in the northwest. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.ocregister.com/articles/albertsons-597539-long-stores.html" target="_new"> Orange County Register </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://democratherald.com/news/local/albany-albertsons-to-close-feb/article_31d0dbdc-7ca7-11e3-b986-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_new"> Albany Democrat-Herald </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2014/01/15/albertsons-closing-7-stores-none-in-idaho" target="_new"> Boise Weekly </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
