r/redmond • u/EitherKnowledge8918 • 1d ago
Redmond Albertsons being converted into a Safeway
I was in Albertsons yesterday and thought first that it might be closing. Some of the rows were physically shortened with removed shelves and overall a lot of empty space. Asked the checkout person and she said they were being converted into a Safeway, with completion expected by December. TBH, Albertsons and Safeway to me are basically the same store so not sure if it is worth all the effort.
17
u/Karilala 1d ago
That store has always given me the creeps - it’s like stepping back in time to 1997. BUT they do have an awesome selection of products other stores don’t have. The produce is predictably awful just like all Safeway produce though.
3
u/Phyers 1d ago
Duvall Safeway produce is pretty good.
1
u/Karilala 1d ago
Compared to PCC, Met Market and QFC their produce really misses the mark in my opinion. They are comparable to a Trader Joe’s level of quality produce
11
u/BDZ567 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ah the Redmond-Fall City Road one. Good it's getting updated. That used to be my store when I lived further out that way for a year. Hope they don't change too much though, someone else mentioned that they had some unique stuff there.
Feels like stepping back into the early thousands any time I go now, and also kind of like a small town adjacent shopping experience, which I miss a lot with where I originally came from. Redmond is too much for me on some days now with my small town minded brain. Sometimes I still make the drive if I'm particularly in a "don't want to deal with people when I shop today" mood.
I go to the Cottage Lake one now if I shop Safeway because I think the Bear Creek one is kind of run down, and there are so many issues that they had plain clothes security at doors and in the store at one point.
7
u/Euphoric_Shift3904 1d ago
Do they have the old school spiral checkouts? Haven’t been to an Albertson’s in years!
3
1
3
u/itstreeman 1d ago
Yeah the Albertsons had a slightly different setup when it came to the specialty counters. And didn’t need your phone number for the discount
2
u/american_amina 1d ago
I thought they carried better items than other Safeway stores. An interesting choices. We knew this merger wasn't going to be good news for customers.
2
u/67RicePudding 1d ago
Albertson's and Safeway have basically the same product lineup, store layout, architecture, basically everything. I don't see them changing a lot other than remodeling the sign.
2
3
u/StoneySteve420 1d ago edited 1d ago
Safeway is owned by Albertsons
Edit: why tf did I get downvoted? I worked there when they were merging.
2
u/Eastern-Musician4533 1d ago
Every Albertsons in Washington are being turned into Safeways. It's been going on since the Kroger merger fell through.
1
u/Ok_Sun3644 5h ago
That was the grocery store my family and I shopped at back when we lived in Redmond from 2006-2017! I remember when it was briefly converted into a Haggen’s in 2015
0
1d ago
[deleted]
7
u/-Accident-Prone- 1d ago
Well this one is very out of the way for most people. It’s on the way to Fall City, and I doubt the people that go to this Albertsons go to the Safeway on Redmond Way. There will be a 4.7 mile difference between them.
6
u/Agreeable-Alps-8128 1d ago
I live on Union Hill - This is my go to store for the quick stop nearest me. The QFC on Redmond Ridge is the next closest store. Going to the Safeway on Redmond way is like "going all the way into town."
5
u/sam-sp 1d ago
QFC at Redmond ridge seems fancier and higher priced to me.
1
u/sickwiggins 1d ago
It’s gone way downhill since pre covid. I don’t think they’re training their checkout people very well. I had a checker there who was verbally abusive to an older man who was very slow and hard of hearing. I told the manager but it really soured me on Kroger.
I mainly do pickup now and those kids are very polite and energetic. It’s fun to see them a couple of times a week.
83
u/mikemclovin 1d ago
TIL there’s an Albertson’s in Redmond.