Stater Bros. to close longtime Hesperia store on Main St.; 62 workers offered transfers without pay or seniority loss
Stater Bros. Markets will close its Hesperia store at 15757 Main St. after Jan. 25, 2026, when the lease expired. Sixty-two employees will be offered transfers with no reduction in pay or loss of seniority, the company said.
Key takeaways
- Lease expiration: The Main St. store closed after Jan. 25, 2026, due to an expired lease; there are no announced replacement plans. (Stater Bros. Markets closing coverage)
- Employee protections: All 62 workers will be offered jobs at other Stater Bros. markets without a cut in pay or loss of seniority.
- Other Hesperia locations: Stores at 14466 Main St. and 16904 Main St. remain open and were remodeled within the last two years; details for Store #190 are available on the company site. (Stater Bros. store page for 16904 Main St. (Store #190))
What happened: lease expiration led to closure
Stater Bros. spokesman Jonathan Lieu confirmed the store at 15757 Main St. in Hesperia shut its doors after Jan. 25, 2026, because the lease on the property expired. The chain has not announced plans to replace the location.
“The lease on the property expired.” — Stater Bros. spokesman Jonathan Lieu
The Main St. store opened in 1980 and served multiple generations of shoppers in the High Desert. Company officials declined to discuss specific lease terms or explain publicly why the company did not pursue a purchase or a new lease, leaving questions about the site’s future.
Employee protections and staffing plans
Company officials said all 62 employees at the closing Main St. store will be offered positions at other Stater Bros. markets without a drop in pay or a loss of seniority. For many hourly workers, that assurance reduces the immediate economic harm of a closure, though reassignments may mean longer commutes or schedule changes.
Stater Bros.’ regional footprint — 167 supermarkets across seven Southern California counties — and a workforce of roughly 18,000 employees give the company flexibility when reassigning staff, officials said.
Other Hesperia stores remain open and recently updated
Stater Bros. confirmed two other Hesperia locations remain in operation: 14466 Main St. and 16904 Main St., both remodeled within the last two years. That continued presence aims to maintain grocery access for residents in the area.
The company’s official page for Store #190 (16904 Main St.) lists daily hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and in-store services including a service deli, custom cakes, sushi, fresh-cut produce, curbside pickup, meat and seafood departments, vacuum-marinated meats and floral. The page also names the store manager as Jeremy Young. (Stater Bros. store page for 16904 Main St. (Store #190))
Company profile and broader context
Stater Bros. Markets is a family-owned company based in San Bernardino that operates 167 supermarkets and reports annual sales exceeding $4 billion. With roughly 18,000 employees, it is a major regional employer and tax revenue source across San Bernardino and neighboring counties.
Observers say closures are unusual for Stater Bros., which has historically favored long-term ownership and community presence; industry discussion notes that a shutdown like this is not common for the chain. (Retail industry discussion; Stater Bros. Markets closing coverage)
Questions left unanswered
The company’s public statements left several issues unclear: whether the landlord demanded higher rent, whether Stater Bros. considered buying the property, or what the property’s future use will be. These gaps have prompted calls for greater transparency from local officials and residents.
A long-vacant grocery site can affect neighborhood access to fresh food, local traffic patterns, and municipal sales tax revenues. Civic stakeholders may seek details on lease negotiations or potential redevelopment plans.
Implications for Hesperia, California
Economic impact: The immediate economic hit is mitigated by reassignment guarantees for employees, preserving local income. However, loss of an established store can reduce foot traffic for nearby businesses and potentially lower sales tax collections if the site remains vacant or is repurposed to a lower-sales use.
Local jobs and labor: Promises to protect pay and seniority are meaningful for a conservative audience that values stable employment, but transfers can create new transportation and scheduling burdens for workers.
Community service and competition: With two remodeled Stater Bros. stores still open in Hesperia, most residents retain access to full-service grocery shopping. Still, the closure may shift shopping patterns and affect smaller competitors near the closed site.
Property and development: The Main St. parcel has been part of Hesperia retail since 1980. If it remains vacant, city leaders may consider incentives, zoning adjustments, or recruitment strategies to attract a new tenant and restore sales tax revenue and neighborhood activity.
Public transparency: Local officials and business groups may press the company and property owner for more information about lease decisions and future plans to ensure accountable outcomes for the community.
Where to get more information
- Stater Bros. Markets closing coverage
- Stater Bros. store page for 16904 Main St. (Store #190)
- Retail industry discussion noting rarity of closures for the chain
Local residents, employees and officials in Hesperia will be watching the property and the company’s follow-through on employee offers in the weeks ahead.
