Happy 25th, West Seattle Thriftway! Shopping-spree raffle starts tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, you can help the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) celebrate its 25th anniversary by buying a ticket for a unique raffle: The winner gets a four-minute shopping spree to gather up to $500 in house-brand Western Family merchandise. Tickets will be sold tomorrow through March 27th for just $1 each, and the proceeds benefit West Seattle Food Bank. The store has a lot to remember and celebrate; staff member Michele Grasso is quoted in the announcement: “I have never worked anywhere else that has been so involved with its community. So many of us are locals, or have worked here for so long that it’s like we’ve grown up with West Seattle. We’ve been through a lot with you – we even survived a fire!”

That fire happened in March 1997 and destroyed the building previously housing West Seattle Thriftway, founded in 1988 by Paul and Connie Kapioski. While it was closed for rebuilding, they even ran a weekly bus to then-Admiral Thriftway for senior citizens who needed help to get to the store.

Before it burned, the store faced Fauntleroy Way SW; now, while it’s on the same site, it faces California SW, with an in-store Chase Bank branch as well as an in-store dining area next to its deli, bakery, and Chinese food counter. Notes the announcement:

West Seattle Thriftway supports their local Food Bank on a daily basis with food donations, and in this economic environment with so many in need they hope to see this event as an additional way to help the surrounding community and have some fun at the same time. In the last fiscal year, families visited the West Seattle Food Bank 37,943 times.

The store supports many other community charities in ways including summertime benefit barbecue lunches outside the store, like this one for WestSide Baby last summer:

Along with buying raffle tickets starting tomorrow, you have two more ways to help West Seattle Thriftway celebrate its silver anniversary: Next Monday, March 18th, they’ll commemorate the grand reopening post-fire, including a celebratory cake from Creme de la Creme Bakery – customers get a slice! And on Saturday, March 30th, at 9 am, it’s the annual Easter Egg Hunt, which usually draws quite a crowd:

(WSB photo from 2012 Easter Egg Hunt)
If you’re new in town and don’t know – West Seattle Thriftway is in Morgan Junction, on the southeast corner of California and Fauntleroy (with a parking entrance from 42nd on the east side, too).

9 Replies to "Happy 25th, West Seattle Thriftway! Shopping-spree raffle starts tomorrow"

  • koni March 12, 2013 (5:42 pm)

    We love West Seattle Thriftway and walk there almost every night to buy dinner fixings…they are really a special store and everyone who works there does a great job! We have been in WS for twelve years now and can’t imagine living in any other neighborhood ;)

  • Tbone March 12, 2013 (5:55 pm)

    I love west seattle thriftway! Happy 25th!

  • old timer March 12, 2013 (7:03 pm)

    Happy 25th West Seattle Thriftway!
    A real center for the Morgan community.
    Thanks for all you do.
    Thanks to your friendly staff too!
    The fastest lines on the peninsula!

  • miws March 12, 2013 (8:15 pm)

    Happy 25th, West Seattle Thriftway! And Happy 15th(?!?!) in the “new” building!

    .

    I may pop back in here in the next day or two, with more to say, when I have more time. I could go on forever about how great the Store and Staff are!

    .

    Mike

  • CEA March 12, 2013 (8:58 pm)

    You know a store is special when you miss it when you moved away. I was out of town for 5 months last year and one of many things I missed deeply about my Seattle ‘hood was Thriftway and its amazing staff. I’ve seen many of the same friendly faces year after year. In an age and time when good things change far too quickly sometimes, I’m grateful to this store for being there and being the same. Happy birthday! Thank you for being here!

  • Valerie March 12, 2013 (10:15 pm)

    Happy Anniversary, Thriftway! I ♥ you guys!!!

  • AlkiGrl March 12, 2013 (11:12 pm)

    It is stories like this that drew me to live in West Seattle. And it is why I oppose the Fauntleroy Whole Foods development. I love having locally owned, Union grocers. Congrats Thriftway!

  • Eric G March 13, 2013 (8:07 am)

    I agree with the sentiment expressed here. W Seattle Thriftway is a gem. We have shopped there at least 3x per week since we moved here 13 years ago. We love the high quality customer service, and how involved they are in the community. I hope they continue to thrive as more competition moves into the area.

  • Carol Dougherty March 13, 2013 (5:13 pm)

    The DONEY PET CLINIC loves WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY. The involvement of the store staff over the Dog Days of Summer events show the community’s true spirit.
    Thank you West Seattle, City Dog Magazine and foremost Happy Anniversary West Seattle Thriftway.

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