Safeway and Hillsboro, Oregon
Posted: June 11th, 2017, 6:48 pm
(Background: Hillsboro is the third largest city in the Portland Metropolitan region and the largest in Washington County, usually just a little ahead of Beaverton at about 90,000 residents)
Safeway seems to be struggling in the Hillsboro, Ore. area. In the city they also have a few Albertsons stores there which are in good condition but not price conscious, for sure.
Yesterday I was in both and was surprised how time and time again, the "Signature" store brand was more expensive than a name brand item that was on sale. I think someone mentioned this being an issue in their region recently as well.
In addition, the one Albertsons I was in must be pretty slow as in both canned goods and housewares there were still a few 'Essential everyday' items on the shelves. The store wasn't very busy when I was there but is clean and maintained. An employee politely asked me if I needed help (stocker / backup cashier). There was no Starbucks in this particular location and it has Supervalu decor.
Safeway in Aloha (technically neither Beaverton nor Hillsboro) hasn't been updated from the early 1990s Safeway decor despite being right across from a major regional employer [Intel]. Further down the road in "central" Hillsboro is another Safeway which I went into for the first time yesterday. Here are some photos from Yelp:
Safeway Hillsboro photo page
I wouldn't really want to shop here. The decor is in OK condition but the flooring is largely cracked and when I first walked in it smelled horrible. I had to dart over to floral and sniff on a few things to get that out of my nose. Never a good sign when a food retailer smells... (and no, it wasn't the Albertsons 'fish' smell). There were also a ton of items missing from the small produce department. Despite it being the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, no produce smiths were working. Of note, the main exterior sign is the modern Safeway S but inside and shopping center signs have the old red and white. This shopping center also has a Target with a pFresh department and other stores that sell groceries (Dollar Tree, Ross).
The Safeway that is on NW 185th Avenue where Beaverton and Hillsboro come together is a really pleasant store that is Lifestyle and seems pretty busy despite Trader Joe's operating in the same center. A Haggen on the Beaverton side closed in 2011, back when everyone though Haggen was "ok" but perhaps struggling a little. Nearby there are a Whole Foods Market, Grocery Outlet, Target (pFresh) and Walmart Neighborhood Market (in a former furniture store!) competing for grocery dollars. Fred Meyer and Albertsons are each a few miles away.
Pricing wise, Safeway was a little more expensive than its sister store and private-label items were more expensive than those at Target. Name brand items were close to the same as those at Target but Target's were "everyday pricing" prices and Safeway/Albertsons were sale prices.
Safeway seems to be struggling in the Hillsboro, Ore. area. In the city they also have a few Albertsons stores there which are in good condition but not price conscious, for sure.
Yesterday I was in both and was surprised how time and time again, the "Signature" store brand was more expensive than a name brand item that was on sale. I think someone mentioned this being an issue in their region recently as well.
In addition, the one Albertsons I was in must be pretty slow as in both canned goods and housewares there were still a few 'Essential everyday' items on the shelves. The store wasn't very busy when I was there but is clean and maintained. An employee politely asked me if I needed help (stocker / backup cashier). There was no Starbucks in this particular location and it has Supervalu decor.
Safeway in Aloha (technically neither Beaverton nor Hillsboro) hasn't been updated from the early 1990s Safeway decor despite being right across from a major regional employer [Intel]. Further down the road in "central" Hillsboro is another Safeway which I went into for the first time yesterday. Here are some photos from Yelp:
Safeway Hillsboro photo page
I wouldn't really want to shop here. The decor is in OK condition but the flooring is largely cracked and when I first walked in it smelled horrible. I had to dart over to floral and sniff on a few things to get that out of my nose. Never a good sign when a food retailer smells... (and no, it wasn't the Albertsons 'fish' smell). There were also a ton of items missing from the small produce department. Despite it being the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, no produce smiths were working. Of note, the main exterior sign is the modern Safeway S but inside and shopping center signs have the old red and white. This shopping center also has a Target with a pFresh department and other stores that sell groceries (Dollar Tree, Ross).
The Safeway that is on NW 185th Avenue where Beaverton and Hillsboro come together is a really pleasant store that is Lifestyle and seems pretty busy despite Trader Joe's operating in the same center. A Haggen on the Beaverton side closed in 2011, back when everyone though Haggen was "ok" but perhaps struggling a little. Nearby there are a Whole Foods Market, Grocery Outlet, Target (pFresh) and Walmart Neighborhood Market (in a former furniture store!) competing for grocery dollars. Fred Meyer and Albertsons are each a few miles away.
Pricing wise, Safeway was a little more expensive than its sister store and private-label items were more expensive than those at Target. Name brand items were close to the same as those at Target but Target's were "everyday pricing" prices and Safeway/Albertsons were sale prices.