Safeway will be expanding its store by moving to the former Mervyn's site, just a few doors down in the Washington Square Shopping Center, the Press Democrat is reporting. Construction will begin in January and be completed by June, resulting in a 22 percent expansion for the supermarket chain.
The move is an attempt to continue Safeway's "Lifestyle" format, which the company launched in 2005 as a way to differentiate itself from its competitors and which has helped boost sales, according to analysts. Lifestyle Safeway stores feature an in-house Starbucks, olive and sushi bars and other features aimed at providing a more "upscale" food shopping experience.
Meanwhile, the former location, at 373 S. McDowell Blvd., will seek a new tenant, according to the story.
I like to think and hope that Safeway has become more customer-oriented than the time years back when I wrote them a check for groceries I purchased, then noticed several months later that they had never cashed it. I wrote them a letter with all the pertinent info so they could get their money. I did not hear back from them for many weeks, at which time I received a notice from a collection agency, plus bank charges for a bounced check, since I had eventually closed the account. When I went in to speak in person with the manager of the Safeway, the gentleman basically said "How do you expect me to do anything about this?" And had nary an apology. This sorta put me off my toast. It's sure not the manner of doing business I have experienced at other businesses I frequent in our wonderful Petaluma.