Congratulations! West Seattle Thriftway’s Paul Kapioski accepts Grocer of the Year honors

Congratulations to Paul Kapioski, owner of West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction, just honored as the Washington Food Industry Association‘s 2014 Grocer of the Year. The award was announced in a surprise presentation at the store this morning; Kapioski said his staffers are the people who “make the store happen”:

WFIA says the award is given for “lifetime commitment to the independent grocery industry and exemplification of business leadership.” WS Thriftway celebrated its 25th anniversary just last year. The store’s ongoing campaign of community giving includes donations to the West Seattle Food Bank as well as summer-long series of benefit barbecues every year, with proceeds going to community nonprofits.

25 Replies to "Congratulations! West Seattle Thriftway's Paul Kapioski accepts Grocer of the Year honors"

  • gatewood October 14, 2014 (12:45 pm)

    Best grocery store and best staff ever.

  • Apey October 14, 2014 (12:58 pm)

    Congratulations! WS Thriftway definitely has the friendliest and most helpful staff around. I’m happy to have this gem in my neighborhood.

  • Lindsey October 14, 2014 (1:13 pm)

    This does not surprise me in the least. We LOVE the West Seattle Thriftway. Besides having the best store offerings and staff, they also have the best in store music. I always feel like (and often do) breaking out in dance while I push my cart down the cereal aisle.

  • Kate October 14, 2014 (1:28 pm)

    Agreed! This is a special place. Congratulations to everyone!

  • Mike October 14, 2014 (1:37 pm)

    Congrats. We drive the extra miles from Shorewood because even though the prices are a bit higher than the Roxbury Safeway, the service is 100% better. Good service means more to us than saving a few cents!

  • Julie October 14, 2014 (2:41 pm)

    Hey, Tracy! The URL points to .org, not .com.

    Yes, these are great people. They are a true part of making a strong community.

    • WSB October 14, 2014 (2:47 pm)

      Fixing, thanks.

  • AM October 14, 2014 (3:16 pm)

    Love it! congrats to the whole team!!!! They really deserve it. They have so many fun events and things going on there. Such a great store!

  • miws October 14, 2014 (3:52 pm)

    What everyone else has said! This award is well deserved.

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    Congrats to Paul, and the entire Thriftway Family!

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    Mike

  • T Rex October 14, 2014 (3:57 pm)

    Where everybody knows you name….

    Refuse to shop anywhere else.

    Congrats!

  • Kim P. October 14, 2014 (7:00 pm)

    Agree, love the store and the staff. Will pay premium every time for the loyalty, quality and the service. I remember way back to before the fire!

  • JoB October 14, 2014 (7:43 pm)

    deserving of the award
    it’s a great store

  • BB October 14, 2014 (8:40 pm)

    I have been shopping here 14 years and I really love this store…the staff are the greatest!

  • OP October 14, 2014 (8:58 pm)

    Well deserved honor, Thriftway gang!

  • Tbone October 14, 2014 (10:19 pm)

    Congrats! I LOVE that store and the staff!

  • OC October 14, 2014 (10:27 pm)

    Congrats! Supportive of our school and community. Thank you!

  • EFo October 14, 2014 (10:35 pm)

    Congrats ! They definitely deserve the award. The staff is always so personable and helpful. I love shopping there.

  • Michele October 14, 2014 (11:16 pm)

    We all love you Paul and Connie! You have created not just a store but a family!!!

  • cheryl October 15, 2014 (1:23 am)

    I worked for the Kapioski family until my retirement time and always felt that I was part of a big family there. I shopped there before I worked there and continue to shop there to this day. I love that customers are also treated like family there. It is a very comfortable environment to shop in. Congratulations Paul and Connie. You deserve this.

  • Suzan Schneider October 15, 2014 (7:43 am)

    Best produce dept and staff. Thank you!

  • Judi Yazzolino October 15, 2014 (8:54 am)

    Congratulations to Paul, West Seattle Thriftway and all of their employees for this well deserved honor! WS Thriftway has been a huge supporter of the West Seattle Thriftway from donating back 1% of their turned in receipts, to selling raffle tickets to all of the many food drives they allow us to do in front of their store. Thank you so much and a big congratulations!!

  • Julie C October 15, 2014 (9:10 am)

    After working in the grocery industry for over 17 years, 6 of them were at West Seattle Thriftway. Paul, Connie, Brian, Steve and the whole staff offer a family environment for staff and customers. The store has quality merchandice snf staff. I miss my grocery days there and I continue to shop there. Great people, hands down.

  • miws October 15, 2014 (9:37 am)

    cheryl, you, as well as all of the other Employees, (especially the long timers) were/are a huge part of that feel of “Family”, not only what we Customers perceive as being the case among the Staff, but, as you mentioned, the Customers feeling like part of the Family as well.

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    Many of us, both Staff and Customers, have shared and encouraged each other through personal struggles, and “victories” over the years.

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    Mike

  • WSoriginal October 15, 2014 (12:11 pm)

    Trish is THE best! :) Congrats to WS Thriftway, well deserved!

  • Kathi Swan October 15, 2014 (6:44 pm)

    You know I love each and every one of you. Blessings

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