Safeway Mid-Atlantic Remodels
Posted: May 12th, 2019, 12:19 am
How many stores in Mid Atlantic has Safeway remodeled in the past couple years?
I went to one store in Arlington in Rosslyn area that appeared to have just been remodeled. I guess this is known as the "Underground Safeway." It has good signs from the road and windows from the sidewalk where you can see directly down into bakery/deli (or outside, if you are in the store). Kind of felt like a store in a daylight basement. What is interesting about this one is it never had a Lifestyle remodel but rather it used to have the mid 90's Safeway decor and now has a super cheap/super basic version of the Florida interior with cement floors. This seems to be a pretty well off area and I really wonder why it never got a Lifestyle remodel.
The store wasn't very busy when I was there (Target across the street had quite a few more people in its grocery area) and overall something just felt "off" about the place. They also had tons of clearance merchandise for such a small store displayed in multiple different places around the perimeter (those infamous Safeway 50% off stickers on packages) and I have no clue why there was so much of it in this store, if they get a lot of mis-ships or what.
As far as the odd vibe of the store, I'm not sure if it was just the lack of customers or what. It looks nice enough; modern, fresh areas were full and well presented (yet deserted). The large self serve hot bar island had little more than an amazing variety of chicken wings, potato wedges, macaroni and cheese, etc. plus they had more hot fried chicken at the service case. I know this is not Whole Foods but I think they could do better. I couldn't get past how this store just has an odd vibe to it.
Also the "buy one get one free" promotions at 2 or more times regular retail prices... really? 16oz Signature Rubbing Alcohol with a regular retail of 4.39 on that promotion, or the small Hydrogen Peroxide at 1.99 on that promotion? Entire drug/GM category on private label had prices like this that were basically double what anywhere else would charge. 7.99/lb for Signature Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders on that promotion? Albertsons really needs to stop this practice across the divisions that are doing it because the customer is not this stupid.
Overall Safeway seems to be one of the weaker operators in DC Metro. Pricing is absolutely terrible. I suppose Shoppers and Food Lion could be considered weaker, but that isn't saying much. Wegmans, Giant, and Harris Teeter are running many circles around Safeway and doing it at lower prices too.
I am curious what the future is going to hold for Safeway Mid Atlantic. They are closing a lot more stores than they are opening... and this seems to be a market where a lot of competitors are opening.
I went to one store in Arlington in Rosslyn area that appeared to have just been remodeled. I guess this is known as the "Underground Safeway." It has good signs from the road and windows from the sidewalk where you can see directly down into bakery/deli (or outside, if you are in the store). Kind of felt like a store in a daylight basement. What is interesting about this one is it never had a Lifestyle remodel but rather it used to have the mid 90's Safeway decor and now has a super cheap/super basic version of the Florida interior with cement floors. This seems to be a pretty well off area and I really wonder why it never got a Lifestyle remodel.
The store wasn't very busy when I was there (Target across the street had quite a few more people in its grocery area) and overall something just felt "off" about the place. They also had tons of clearance merchandise for such a small store displayed in multiple different places around the perimeter (those infamous Safeway 50% off stickers on packages) and I have no clue why there was so much of it in this store, if they get a lot of mis-ships or what.
As far as the odd vibe of the store, I'm not sure if it was just the lack of customers or what. It looks nice enough; modern, fresh areas were full and well presented (yet deserted). The large self serve hot bar island had little more than an amazing variety of chicken wings, potato wedges, macaroni and cheese, etc. plus they had more hot fried chicken at the service case. I know this is not Whole Foods but I think they could do better. I couldn't get past how this store just has an odd vibe to it.
Also the "buy one get one free" promotions at 2 or more times regular retail prices... really? 16oz Signature Rubbing Alcohol with a regular retail of 4.39 on that promotion, or the small Hydrogen Peroxide at 1.99 on that promotion? Entire drug/GM category on private label had prices like this that were basically double what anywhere else would charge. 7.99/lb for Signature Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders on that promotion? Albertsons really needs to stop this practice across the divisions that are doing it because the customer is not this stupid.
Overall Safeway seems to be one of the weaker operators in DC Metro. Pricing is absolutely terrible. I suppose Shoppers and Food Lion could be considered weaker, but that isn't saying much. Wegmans, Giant, and Harris Teeter are running many circles around Safeway and doing it at lower prices too.
I am curious what the future is going to hold for Safeway Mid Atlantic. They are closing a lot more stores than they are opening... and this seems to be a market where a lot of competitors are opening.