Stadium Thriftway - Bigger Better and a Large Pile of Fish
Grocery store news in Tacoma has a history of discussing the lack of options and limited locations … but that is all about to change. According to the TNT, Mike Hargreaves, the owner of the Stadium Thriftway, is planning a 6000+ foot expansion. The move will take over some space currently used by Premier Collision (who will be moving to a nearby facility) and will allow for many additional services including a larger fresh seafood counter, expanded cheese selection, and an expanded deli among may other improvements. Once complete, the store will not only provide a greater selection of services, but will help the community with the addition of a 30 percent increase in Thriftway jobs.
Haven’t we talked about this before … ?
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: tacoma-business
13 comments
J Jim C July 17, 2009
While I am happy for Thriftway (go local!) I think the best part of this story is the body shop moving out. Hopefully they aren’t moving into another residential neighborhood, for their new neighbors’ sake. The existence of the car dealership in this location has always mystified me, but the body shop hasn’t – it really more appropriately belongs in an area zoned for industrial activity.
M Michael Pierce July 17, 2009
I hope the prices drop and the meat dept gets better. Currently the seafood dept is gross, I’m consistently walking by dead clams and oysters just sitting there on ice.
I look forward to the improvements as I am a daily customer
J Jesse July 17, 2009
This Thriftway and the Hilltop Safeway are really the only two stores near downtown. Now that there’s plans for a new grocery store by the old Elks club on Broadway, I bet that Thriftway feels they need to compete and be ready for this new competition.
Do a LID on MLK, or a cable-car stop (turn-around) on top of the hill on MLK and 13th-15th, and watch the Safeway reinvent itself too.
These LIDs are great INVESTMENTS. They really get things going. Good investments pay DIVIDENDS. Enjoy your new grocery store(s)!!!
(Why aren’t there more LIDs in the works?)
J jdub July 18, 2009
There was a cable car run that ran up 11th to MLK over to 13th then back down to A St. Sounds simple, elegant and would reconnect all the avenues along the hillside.
Think of the instant fill-in of downtown if that was proposed and done.
No-one, no-one likes the hike of The Hill.
Now, if you could get the cable car up to MLK then down to Dock St, that would be something.
J Jesse July 18, 2009
jdub: That is EXACTLY what I’m talking about.
C CA July 19, 2009
“The existence of the car dealership in this location has always mystified me,”
Agreed! It really is a terrible use of prime urban real estate. Those huge open lots filled with cars with bright stickers on them always brings me down. With proper planning and a more robust local – and national – economy, the St. Helens and Stadium neighborhoods could rival the trendy spots in Seattle.
6 6ther July 20, 2009
I think that entire wedge building should be made into a mixed use center, with retail and office space.
C crenshaw sepulveda July 20, 2009
Is there nothing a mixed use center can’t cure?
P Philip July 20, 2009
Has anyone heard anything new about the Proctor Safeway’s plans to expand? I thought that was supposed to be underway yet there seems to be no movement there.
6 6ther July 21, 2009
Mixed use centers will be the death of us- eventually. But it’s the natural progression of things.
I was up on Queen Anne last weekend, and it’s all the chatter … “remember when it used to be so quaint here? Now it’s over commercialized mixed use centers; Starbucks, Bartells and apartments everywhere.”
That said, I still think Stadium Thriftway wedge should be a vibrant retail center with offices on top.
E Erik B. July 21, 2009
Has anyone heard anything new about the Proctor Safeway’s plans to expand?
They were supposed to start in April of this year, but apparently they have been delayed.
Nice to see that Stadium Thiftway may expand. The area is one of the few in Tacoma to see many new residents lately.
Is there nothing a mixed use center can’t cure?
They only have the potential to cure some things and transform abandoned areas into areas with life by adding humans.
C crenshaw sepulveda July 22, 2009
I suspect they have to be the “right” kinds of humans. Not those kinds of humans that ruin things for everyone.
T Thorax O'Tool July 22, 2009
…or those kind without large sums of disposable income.