Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Safeway held a grand reopening Saturday to celebrate the completion of a remodel.
The remodel is Safeway Portland Division’s 95th store to be remodeled to the Lifestyle store format.
Safeway has operated a store in Sweet Home since 1955. It demolished, rebuilt and reopened the store in 2001.
This is the first remodel since then.
“We’ve had loyal customers in Sweet Home for nearly 60 years,” said Safeway Division President Steve Frisby. “We’re proud to reinvest in Sweet Home, and we thank our local customers for their continued support.”
Crews completed most of the remodeling at night, with the store closing two hours early.
That meant fewer disruptions, said Manager Dean Nicholson. “It’s a nice look. It’s just got a better feel to it.”
Most of the remodeling has been visual, with lower lighting and earth tones.
Nicholson said the biggest change was in the produce department.
The remodel also included the construction of a Starbuck’s coffee kiosk inside the grocery store.
The project took about three months to complete, Nicholson said.
“It looks great,” said Stephen Fountain. He was sitting at a table with a drink from Starbuck’s while he waited for a prescription to be filled. “It’s nice to have a place to sit down and drink your coffee. They’ve got wi-fi if you need it. It’s a little more updated.”
He thought the way it was organized was a little more helpful too, he said.
Customer Echo O’Brien wasn’t as thrilled.
“It looks a lot like a yuppie store,” she said. “I think it’s ridiculous in Sweet Home to have that, a little too fancy, too much for a small town.”
Shaw Valentine didn’t agree.
“It’s nice,” he said. “I don’t really go in there that much, but it looks updated.”
To celebrate the grand reopening, Safeway hosted a preview party Friday evening, and then held a 12-hour sale on Saturday.
“I think it’s great, really,” said customer Wendy Younger. “I like the new look. It’s just modern and something really positive for Sweet Home. I also love the Starbuck’s.”
She frequents all the coffee shops, but she likes the added option, she said.
Sweet Home Safeway employs 86 people. Some 34 percent of those employees have been employed by Safeway for more than 10 years.
The Safeway store remodels have provided a much-needed boost during the current economic recession, said spokesman Dan Floyd. During the remodel, Safeway’s Human Resources Department partnered with the Lebanon office of the Oregon Employment Department and increased the store’s workforce by 28 percent.
Safeway launched its Lifestyle store concept in late 2003 to showcase its commitment to quality, particularly in the perishables departments, with high-quality fresh produce, meat, seafood and floral departments, Floyd said. There is also a wide array of prepared foods, organic and natural products and dry grocery items tailored to local preferences. The stores feature an earth-toned décor that is warm and inviting, with special lighting to highlight products and departments, custom flooring and unique display features.
“Well, I can’t find anything,” said customer Alice Anderson, adding she’ll get used to it.
“It’s nicer. It’s just better vegetables and fruits.”
Sweet Home Safeway is one of 116 stores in the Portland District, which includes Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Through the efforts of Safeway customers and employees, Sweet Home Safeway has raised a significant amount of money for local and national charities, Floyd said. In March, the store raised $4,447 for Easter Seals and Special Olympics. In June, customers and employees raised $4,741 for prostate cancer awareness, and in August, the store raised $4,404 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The store is raising money in October for breast cancer awareness.