Retail Watchers

Here is what the News Tribune says about Main & Vine on opening day:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/busi ... 38053.html

The Haggen auction has been pushed back to February 11th. I wonder if they are having difficulties attracting buyers?

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/re ... to-feb-11/

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/lo ... 41763.html

It is interesting that this store is opening across from what was a Haggen. Basically a similar type of store. In reality, the demographics of Gig Harbor should have worked for Haggen. I do think that Main & Vine will work well in Gig Harbor! Especially if their prices are lower than Whole Foods...

It's pretty genius that the #1 grocer in Chicago still owns 19 "dark" sites after its parent company bought the parent company of the former #2 grocer. Part of me expects a handful of the Haggen sites that Albertsons obtained possession of to suffer the same fate. I am thinking the same t...

Today, I was in Renton at the former Haggen, soon again to be Safeway at NE 4th St. This store is on its way to re-opening as there was an approval notice for it's liquor license. Also from looking in the windows, the 'Lifestyle" décor package is indeed dead. Like the new Safeway near Washingto...

There is also a licensed concept Starbucks at Ralph's Thristway in Okympia, WA. It is the only case where I have seen a Starbucks in a Thriftway in Washington State. But this particular store, even though there is a entrance inside the store, looks and feels like a corporate store, with the exceptio...

Gig Harbor is an interesting place. I know that years ago, when Walmart wanted in, the citizens were not happy. But it seems that they are more friendly to Fred Meyer as it has a better reputation than Walmart. But I thought it was interesting that they were just building an new "Marketplace&qu...

For the heck of it, I was on the Canada Safeway website. Other than the fact that Compliments brands from Sobey's are now offered rather than the US Safeway brands, there really has been little mention of the Sobey's connection....Until now! In fact, I am wondering if there is going to be a rebanne...

Who knows....in areas where there are more than one banner, they ads could be dual brand ads. Years ago, when Safeway bought Carrs Quality Centers in Alaska, neither store brand disappeared. Collectively they are advertised as Carrs/Safeway. Signs were not changed but ads and uniforms were unified. ...

Funny, this sounds like what Haggen is at their legacy stores. But because they were unknown in California, made no attempts at no advertising and had higher prices that didn't matche the shopping experience, they failed! Good for Gelsons! They mad an clean break from Albertsons and Haggen and seems...