Admiral Safeway project: New website, plus staff info

On the fourth day of temporary Admiral Safeway-lessness in north West Seattle, we’ve received a few updates from Sara Corn at Safeway’s regional headquarters. First and foremost, they’re announcing the launch of the project-info website they had promised earlier – see it here. That’s also where you’ll see a construction webcam once demolition begins (update: she projects end of September), as well as everything from a floor plan for the new store to information about its quest to become West Seattle’s first LEED-certified supermarket.

In hopes that Admiral shoppers will use the Jefferson Square store till the new one here is up and running, Corn also shared these notes:

-Jefferson Square Safeway will continue the “Senior Coffee” hour that Admiral has hosted for years. This is a social hour on Tuesday, 10 am-11 am. Safeway provides the coffee and the seniors bring treats to share.

-3 of our career checkers have transferred to Jefferson Square for the duration of the construction:
· Barb Fuda – 40 years with Admiral Safeway
· Chris Murray – 37 years with Admiral Safeway
· Sheryl Bogie – 27 years with Admiral Safeway
26 additional Admiral Safeway employees have also transferred to the Jefferson Square Safeway.

– Our fuel station is still open and offering the 10 cent discount for store purchases of $50 or more;
– The pharmacy is open in a trailer on the Admiral site;
– Jefferson Square Safeway now has free underground parking available for our customers.

She also mentioned that local Safeways have fundraisers ahead, including J-Square Safeway hosting a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser at Roxbury Lanes tomorrow, 6-9 pm, $10 for unlimited bowling and shoes, and starting its annual Christmas Ham Drive for West Seattle Food Bank right after Thanksgiving.

15 Replies to "Admiral Safeway project: New website, plus staff info"

  • k August 25, 2010 (3:16 pm)

    let’s hear it for the tenure of the 3 staffers headed to Jefferson Square! wow!

  • HelperMonkey August 25, 2010 (3:36 pm)

    yay Sheryl! :D

  • Mona August 25, 2010 (4:14 pm)

    Does this seem like a strange business move to anyone else?
    Mona

  • sam August 25, 2010 (4:33 pm)

    Mona- which part are you referring to?

    – the first LEED certified supermarket ?…

    re-locating 3 employees at the Jefferson square store ?

    the free parking ?

  • Forest August 25, 2010 (4:52 pm)

    Seeing how there is a Roxbury Safeway store, it seems strange for Jefferson Square Safeway to be hosting a fundraiser at Roxbury Lanes. Any chance that Jefferson Square Safeway is actually hosting its fundraiser at WS Bowl?

    • WSB August 25, 2010 (4:56 pm)

      This is a direct quote from Sara at Safeway via e-mail.

  • JanS August 25, 2010 (5:56 pm)

    Mona…the store has needed an upgrade for some time. Business is good for Safeway, they own the property…and we reap the benefits of having a wonderful store in the Admiral neighborhood. What is so wrong with that? There will also be a separate retail building for cafes, etc. And…approx. 40 living spaces, and some work spaces.

    If you’re thinking it’s bad because of the recession, this has been in the works for 2 years. It will be wonderful. And I live across the street and will have to put up with the construction over the next year. If Safeway can swing it monetarily, why not? It’s not like the store has never been there, that this is a new build. It’s been there for 50 years, and now will be better :)

  • Gina August 25, 2010 (6:47 pm)

    I have a relative at Safeway Corporate, the Admiral Safeway is well known as one of the highest grossing Safeways in Seattle.

  • Caprial August 25, 2010 (7:37 pm)

    It’s going to be a long and difficult year for the school across the street. Hopefully people will be extra careful when dropping their kids off to school, since they won’t have the courtesy of the parking lot across the street. It was a gift, not a given…but I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt on the street.

  • pam August 26, 2010 (8:25 am)

    Barb, Chris and Sheryl must have started working when they were 10 years old!

  • wsme August 26, 2010 (8:44 am)

    Sheryl!! <3

  • bebecat August 26, 2010 (12:43 pm)

    I tried all the other stores Met Market,PCC.new QFC and the Jefferson sq. Safeway. I am a Safeway person. At Jeff Safeway I immediately saw a familiar face in the meat department. I said “Are you from Admiral?” she said “yes” I said “me too!” And I was right at home. And the prices were right too!

  • JR August 26, 2010 (1:54 pm)

    I have to say (and I know I speak for many other area residents who I’ve talked to) that I am NOT happy about the destruction and rebuild of the Admiral store. I do not plan to shop at the new admiral Safeway, nor will I shop at the Jefferson Square one. I was a loyal customer of the Admiral store for more than 16 years. Now, my business is going to stay with the stores I’ve had to shop at while the Admiral store is closed–QFC and Metropolitan Market.

    The last thing West Seattle needed was another huge supermarket with a bunch of products we don’t even buy. The present store was just fine, had great parking, and was convenient.

    Even if the plans were laid two years ago, doing this during a recession is stupid. Yes, Admiral was one of the highest grossing Safeways–because people liked shopping there the way it was, not because they wanted a huge new store.

    Safeway needs to learn to concentrate on the priorities–enough staff to provide good, timely service, keeping prices competitive, and their produce could certainly have used improvement.

    Oh yeah, and having store managers who aren’t downright rude to staff and customers, as the current Safeway manager was, would be a priority, too.

  • pam August 27, 2010 (8:44 am)

    We’ve shopped at Safeway for over 25 years – a lot out of convenience (habit) and familiarity. People like Chris, Barb and Sheryl (and others) become ‘friends’ which is a draw. I get annoyed when they trade the spaces they put the pepsi and the coke so understand not wanting change! But I am happy that the store will be updated and hopefully have more international food ingredients available. A clean, new, town center type store is something I am personally looking forward to.

  • M August 27, 2010 (1:54 pm)

    I am at a total loss as to the posters here who think this is bad to do during a recession. Lower labor costs and stimulates the economy (the RIGHT way, with Private Sector Capital I might add). I think it’s wonderful even though I’m going to miss shopping there for a year or so.

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