Safeway for sale? Chain with 3 West Seattle stores ‘in talks’

Since Safeway has three stores in West Seattle, more than any other grocery chain, this might be of interest: The 1,300+-store chain announced today that it’s in talks with a potential buyer. Here’s one of the more thorough stories we’ve seen so far, published close to Safeway’s Bay Area headquarters. Safeway didn’t identify the prospective buyer, and no official deal has been announced yet, but industry observers are reported to believe it’s a private-equity firm. The 28th/Roxbury Safeway is the only local one for which the company owns the land, six acres worth; its Jefferson Square store is on a leased site, and it leases the land its Admiral store is on, after selling the site to American Realty Advisors one year after building the big new store.

zipline February 19, 2014 (9:18 pm)

Walmart is looking to expand its grocery business. They are big enough to buy out Safeway.

Diane February 19, 2014 (9:37 pm)

Great find; this has been in all the biz journal news for weeks; so Safeway is finally admitting it’s true?
~
not surprised; the new giant Admiral Safeway has about 20 check stands and often only 1 open; ever since Trader Joe’s opened, and always packed, I’ve wondered how Safeway stays in business; and I am still so grateful every day that we finally got Trader Joe’s here
~
although, isn’t it strange how during the recession that Safeway was rebuilding and remodeling most of its stores, like they had mountains of cash
~
and of course the CEO was still making millions, now “retired”

WSB February 19, 2014 (10:22 pm)

Diane – I looked at multiple accounts after happening onto it by Twitter; apparently at some point this afternoon, Safeway said it out loud. … here it is, in the news release from their earnings report today:
.
http://www.safeway.com/ShopStores/Investors.page#iframetop

Diane February 19, 2014 (9:38 pm)

Fred Meyer please please please

JeffK February 19, 2014 (10:05 pm)

I’m hoping a more local chain like Town & Country Markets (Ballard Market, Central Market) would buy one of the Safeways.

Diane February 19, 2014 (11:04 pm)

wow; great research, as usual
~
I gotta wonder if their employees even know

Deb February 19, 2014 (11:22 pm)

Hi Diane – Fred Meyers is owned by Kroger, and so is QFC. So I wouldn’t get my hopes up on a FM going in – what with the new Junction QFC.
Remember the smaller Fred Meyers stores at the White Center Safeway site, or the one that was up on Broadway? I think that FM requires a much bigger footprint these days.

WestofJunction February 20, 2014 (6:06 am)

I can imagine QFC has probably hurt- esp. in the Junction. They have way better customer service and often better prices. Given the amount of new housing going in, I think there is plenty of business for well run, customer focused stores. I’d like a Fred Meyer, also.

justducky February 20, 2014 (6:23 am)

A Freddy’s could make good use of the Roxbury Safeway, but please NO wallyworld.

Lura Ercolano February 20, 2014 (7:39 am)

But the Roxbury site WAS a Fred Meyer at one point. If it didn’t work for the FM chain back then, why would they try it again?
.
Safeway has developed a lot of sites that are store + other retail + apartments. I don’t know if Safeway owns the property at many of those sites, but if they do, with the boom in apartment rents, the chain becomes a real estate purchase. Does Safeway own the land under their Ballard store? Their Madison store?

935 February 20, 2014 (7:56 am)

Can someone please explain to me the unabashed bigotry aimed at stores like Walmart?
Please understand people that Walmart’s low prices mean a great deal to people who NEED to stretch their already thin dollars.
Not everyone can afford to shop at TJ’s or QFC for that matter. These families are probably not living north of Orchard and believe you me. Lower Prices would be a welcome change to the mini-monopoly of Kroger and Safeway.

WestofJunction February 20, 2014 (8:49 am)

And the Home Depot was a KMart – perhaps with population changes, there is more of a demand for the types of goods Fred Meyer sells.

PangolinPie February 20, 2014 (9:07 am)

935: there’s enough controversy over Walmart’s business and employment practice that there’s even a Wikipedia page dedicated to it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Walmart

Brian February 20, 2014 (9:14 am)

@935:
.
1) It’s not “bigotry” to dislike Wal-Mart and their business practices.
.
2) Wal-Mart doesn’t pay a living wage and encourages their employees to lean on state and federal welfare programs to make up the difference. They are a leech on society.

wscommuter February 20, 2014 (9:59 am)

935 – I echo others. Walmart is essentially cheating us with their “low prices.” By avoiding health insurance, their employees end up in emergencey rooms, etc., and get subsidized health care (and waaaaaay more expensive health care) on the public dime … it is merely a different, and in my view, perverse, form of corporate welfare.

935 February 20, 2014 (10:36 am)

I am not one to constantly check back after my comments have been made, but as I asked for information as to why Walmart is demonized – I feel obligated to check back for any reputable answers. I do not want to create a “discussion” on this thread. If its OK to post my personal email address, I would be happy to do so … please let me know.

First, the word “bigot” is defined as : “a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion”. So unabashed hatred of a corporation makes my use of the noun correct. It is not specific to a person or group of people about a person or group of people.

As far as “unfair business practices” go, what is unfair about boosting your bottom line? Isn’t that the idea of Capitalisim? Anyone who works (in the USA) even people working for non profits and volunteerisim do so to boost their individual bottom line, be that financially or philianthropic. If you don’t want to work for Walmart (or Sam’s Club) you don’t have to.

As far as the health insurance issue goes, that – according to the President and others – is settled law. Or is it?? Anyhow, if we DO have the ACA, the argument for the belief that underpaid Walmart workers are a drain on healthcare resources becomes invalid. Again, if you believe you are not receiving the pay or the benefits you deserve, you work in a free market. You are not entitled to what you feel you should receive. You are entitled to what you are able to earn.

A Walmart in West Seattle or White Center, in this humble underpaid blue collar workers’ opinion, would be a very welcome addition.

WestofJunction February 20, 2014 (10:38 am)

I’m no partisan of Wal-Mart, but they are really only different from other retail chains in that they are so large that they have a big influence on their suppliers. They are not that low in price – they particularly advertise a few loss leaders but for the most part, a consumer can do as good or better elsewhere by being a careful shopper. They also carry some low end (shoddy) goods that Fred Meyer and Target do not carry.Wal-Mart’s appeal was their stores were very welcoming to lower income consumers – a friendly atmosphere with greeters and bright and appealing displays. The stores intially thrived in areas that were underserved by chain grocers, etc.

DJ_206 February 20, 2014 (12:13 pm)

For whatever store that fills in for the lot, I hope they will still have job openings for teenagers.

alkisw February 20, 2014 (12:51 pm)

Oh, if only Publix would make its way out West.

unknown February 20, 2014 (12:57 pm)

I’ve lived in the W/C W.SEA area for 30 plus years and have seen the 28th/Roxbury store change from one chain to another but these past few years I have never been so disgusted with it! Rat poop droppings by the carts, litter in the parking lot and in the store, meat/seafood department with way past pull date items, produce rotten, pharmacy employees just plain rude and one day last summer there was a cigarette burning in the landscape bark by the gas station I went in told the customer service rep she got a courtesy clerk to go out to check on it and 40 mins later when I left it was still burning I went back in and got the kid and he said “Oh it’s not going to catch anything on fire” now maybe it wouldn’t but it was a dry hot summer last year so??? I could go on forever with that store I just hope this is one that’ll be bought out and make good changes!
I shop at the Burien one now.

My two cents ... February 20, 2014 (1:25 pm)

Just because Safeway is for sale (or if it is sold) doesn’t necessarily equate to any changes for the current store locations.

Laura February 20, 2014 (2:46 pm)

Not to thread jack too much further but I have worked with Walmart’s worker’s compensation program and the way they treat injured workers is criminal, literally and figuratively. A quick google will give you a history of their crimes in our state and others.

smarty2shoes February 20, 2014 (3:37 pm)

Isn’t the Wal in Walmart Walton from the TV show????

Good night John boy!

Kayleigh February 20, 2014 (4:01 pm)

Walmart is really among the worst of all corporations in terms of how they treat and pay employees. The owners have become a very disturbing concentration of wealth. I don’t shop there ever ever ever. Saving 17 cents on Tide detergent isn’t worth what Walmart does to the economy and the country.
.
I like the Jefferson Square Safeway, especially now that it’s less crowded. I’d hate to see it go.

172 February 20, 2014 (4:43 pm)

Does anyone remember like i do that there used to be a Fred Meyer in that Roxbury location a long time ago?

dawsonct February 20, 2014 (5:45 pm)

If you are concerned about low prices, even if you DON’T give a damn how an employer treats their labor, your FELLOW Americans, then maybe you should be hoping for a Winco in W. Seattle. Lower prices than Walmart, better quality and service.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/08/16/walmarts-worst-nightmare-winco/#!slide=978669

Of course, the fact they also treat their employees like human beings won’t matter to you, but they do.
And the people at the very top probably STILL live pretty darned comfortable lives.
Huh,imagine that?

wscommuter February 20, 2014 (5:46 pm)

935 … you’re right as far as you go. Free markets and free choices, etc. Great. But Walmart games the system. Re health care, the fallacy in your point is that for years – decades – Walmart has played this game, allowing taxpayers to subsidence their business model. That’s not free enterprise; its corporate thievery. It remains to be seen if the ACA will remedy that scam – but a scam it is.

Walmart has likewise used free market principles as a bludgeon to kill commerce in many communities, especially rural ones. Absolutely legal and their right – all the small towns where smaller business were put out of business by their immense power to drive prices lower – hurt a lot of small businesses. And many of those people who lost their jobs end up working for Walmart – no choices otherwise in many smaller communities, at lower incomes, lesser benefits, etc. Is that really the model of free enterprise you want to hold up as admirable?

So be it. Walmart’s right to do so. And my right as a consumer, to not like it, and shop elsewhere. So, no … I would not welcome Walmart to West Seattle. The anti-Walmart – Costco – manages to treat its employees well, with fair pay and good benefits, and make a nice profit too. If I need to spend money at a big corporate store, I go there.

robert February 20, 2014 (6:57 pm)

REGUARDLESS OF WHERE YOU SHOP REMEMBER TO LOOK FOR THE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES LABEL..WALLMART AND THE REST OF THE CUT-THROAT DISCOUNT STORES ARE MOSTLY CHINA-MADE AND PRODUCED GOODS..INFERIOR-DIRTY,AND UNSAFE..

Jim February 20, 2014 (7:07 pm)

172…

Roxbury and 28th was a Fred Meyer and a Larry’s market together. If I recall correctly Larry’s redeveloped it into Loebucks (sp?) But found running two grocery chains counterproductive. Fred Meyer came back in with a Marketime format, then Safeway came in consolidating the 35th and Roxbury store and white center store into one store.

justducky February 20, 2014 (7:51 pm)

Yes Dawsonct, I would like to see a WinCo rather than Wallyworld, especially since WinCo is an employee owned company, and their prices are excellent. I don’t mind having to bag my own groceries if I can save a little more money.

SS February 20, 2014 (9:32 pm)

Very surprised to see someone comment that QFC is cheaper than Safeway.. um, no. This is the store to put a yellow $4.79 sticker on a small box of Wheat Thins with the phrase “NEW low price!!”

Their meat, milk, etc. is generally way more expensive than Safeway.

WestofJunction February 21, 2014 (7:57 am)

SS- I find sales prices to be better on the items I buy- granted, alot of prepackaged national brands are somewhat cheaper at SW at the “regular” price- but for those items I just buy when they are on special – QFC meat is by far better and I do find QFC milk prices better- as well as natural/organic eggs.