I love Forest Grove. But there is one subject I complain about when it comes to my town – and that is the selection of Grocery Stores. Namely the ONE and ONLY grocery store. Safeway.
I guess I’m just one of those people who loves to hate Safeway. Sure it’s local, and been in town a long time, and I try really hard to support my local businesses, but………… Every time I go to Safeway, I usually wish I had taken the extra trip out to Freddy’s. Why? Well – first it’s a giant corporation. I’m not too fond of giant corporations. Remember when they completed their remodel? Starbucks? That was like a slap in the face to all the local family owned baristas in town, including BJ’s just a few doors down. Second – their prices are steep, especially compared to say Winco. Third – I can usually find a much greater selection – especially with more organic/natural foods – at Freddy’s. And fourth – there’s usually not enough checkers – which means long lines.
I’m sorry Safeway – I try to like you. But I can’t. If you want to win me over, start with your prices, get a few more checkers, clean up your produce, and add some more natural foods (i.e. New Seasons).
So my question is – how did we get to be a one grocery store town? From what I have heard from folks who have lived here a lot longer than I have – we use to have LOTS of grocery stores. In fact – you might be surprised as to what used to be a grocery store – way back in the day.
Valley Art? That was the original Safeway.
Assembly of God Church? (across from Tom McCall) – that’s where Safeway moved to after they left Vally Art.
Forest Grove Health and Fitness? (in the Center Strip Mall) – used to be DaBoys. That was actually still here when I moved here in ‘98.
Forest Grove Elks Lodge? Used to be a Piggly Wiggly.
Fuiten/Rose/Hoyt Funeral Home? Yep – I know it’s kinda creepy – but that used to be a Chet’s Thriftway.
There’s four – and I’m sure I’m missing a few. I heard there was a Coopers Grocery somewhere downtown as well.
Reminds me of all the Video Rental stores we had when I moved here. There must have been at least 3 or 4. And then another giant corporation moved to town. And soon after there was only one left. Blockbusters. I guess the same thing happened with the grocery stores. Now you know why I dislike giant corporations…they usually put the little guys out of business.
I know people would LOVE to have another store in town. A few years back – there was town talk about a Haagen’s coming, then it was Albertsons. Many of us dreamed of a Whole Foods, New Seasons, or a Trader Joes. But it never happened. And it’s probably not going to happen. We just don’t have enough people in this town to support a big name store.
So the only thing we have to look forward to – as far as a new grocery store coming – is Wal Mart.
You know – when you think about it – comparing our options – Freddy’s isn’t really that far away after all.
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I hate Safeway, too, but I think even Freddy’s is too high priced. I only go there if Winco doesn’t have what we want and Safeway is our “desperation” store, when you only need a scant few things and don’t want to run all the way to Cornelius or Hillsboro.
We DO need another grocery store here. I’d like a New Season’s o…r Trader Joe’s. I won’t shop at Wal Mart for many reasons. That is going to hurt our small businesses here something bad, you wait and see. I am bummed out about that.
Safeway is really only local in the physical sense. The company itself is a huge corporation based out of California.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safeway_Inc.
Fred Meyer is more local in terms of starting out in the area, but they merged themselves with a larger coporation, Kroger, back in 1999.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Meyer
I guess my point is that shopping at Wal-Mart is not a whole heck of a lot different than shopping at either of the other two. What Forest Grove really needs, IMO, is a specialty foods store that carries similar items to a New Seasons but is locally owned and operated. Unfortunately though, I don’t believe that Forest Grove has enough citizens with enough disposable income to be able to support a business like this.
I completely agree Collin.
In the little town of Sequim, Washington, there is a store called Sunny Farms. They are a locally owned Farm Store and Nursery. Here is just one of the many reviews from both Yahoo and Yelp…
“I will always come back.: Sunny Farms is a big part of our community history. The store has always been around and in the same spot. Their field are close by to where I live and I love watching the veggies grow. This is a warm place to shop for fresh organics, wholesome foods, and wonderful smiles on employee faces. They will also make you soup and sandwiches, don’t forget the occasional frozen yogart. The lights are not bright so you are not blinded when you first walk into their store unlike other big name places. And, the smell of fresh fruit as I walk in has always been my big welcome into that store. Thank you Sunny Farms”
And I’ll add this, it is ALWAYS crowded. People want fresh produce.
I’m with you guys….I hate Safeway too. I wouldn’t gripe so much about their prices if their products were more like New Seasons. Safeway’s ‘fresh’ fish is a travesty and they always have the EXACT same produce, regardless of what’s in season. There’s never anything local, either. I try to support local farms when produce is in season. Like corn on the cob…what’s it doing coming from CA when it’s grown locally??????
I’m with all of you. I HATE Safeway. I hate it so much, I’ve been taking the food orders (and somestimes, the bodies) of my neighbors to Winco, or anywhere else they want to go that isn’t Safeway, just to make sure Safeway doesn’t get any of our money. These big corp stores often have the attitude that they are the masters and we exist to serve them, when it is the other way around. Same with Walmart.
The point I keep hearing that I don’t agree with is that these huge corporations “have” to put the little guys out of business. If we don’t spend our money there, the big corps won’t be able to stay in business. WE decide who thrives. We’re not victims here. It is entirely up to us who is in business and who isn’t — dependant upon where we choose to spend our money. And the old argument that “some people are so poor, they don’t have a choice but to shop at places like Walmart” doesn’t hold water, either. A population who is that poor is not large enough to support a store like Walmart.
At some point, we have to take responsibility for the consequences our daily choices have on our community and our neighbors. What do we need so badly that we can’t get it from a local farmer, or an employee-owned business, or some other local establishment? Are we so selfish that we’re unwilling to sacrifice and cut back a little to support our neighborhood? Or to drive a little further to make sure the big corps don’t overrun us?
I’m fortunate in that I don’t know anyone who is so poor that they’re starving, though nearly all of my friends and neighbors are having to cut way back and eliminate frivolous purchases. I haven’t gone to a restaurant in months because I can’t afford it. But I’m not willing to go to Safeway or to shop at Walmonster because I know that choice will simply put even more local people into worse financial straits as they lose their jobs and their businesses … and why? So I can have cheap products that I don’t really need (often made from unsafe materials) that are made in China? I don’t think so.
I’ll just continue to do what one person can, taking neighbors to other stores, preferrably local employee-owned businesses, so they don’t give their dollars to the big corps who don’t care about our community or about us.
Linda, you said it best. As for goods from China…I won’t buy them, and sometimes it’s darned hard to find what you are shopping for that’s NOT made in China! Even my dog has had to give up treats…I can’t find any that aren’t made in China, and I’m not chancing feeding him melamine. The Chinese have shown they don’t give a damn about our health in the loudest way imaginable buy sending us poison in food and goods. Why would anyone buy Chinese goods? What does it take for people to pay attention?
Thanks for the comment Linda.
What scares me is the fact that Safeway is our ONLY local store. If – God forbid – there is ever any REAL emergency around here, and those Safeway trucks stop rolling in – then what? What if we can’t make it to Freddys, or Winco?
We’ll have no food – yet ironically – we have miles and miles of farmland surrounding us. Only thing is – I can’t eat nursery plants or grass seed.
Yes, we’ve created quite a dilemma for ourselves, haven’t we? I can come up with a few ways to survive for a while with no grocery store, but in an area with a concentrated population those ways would be exhausted quickly. We’d have to resort to hunting and fishing and being hungry a lot of the time. It sure would thin out the population in a hurry!
I think it would be wise to consider “when” rather than “if” the trucks don’t come — because there are so many conditions that could bring that about. We need to take steps to be prepared. I am a student of history, both of our country’s and of others, and we’re headed for hard times — and a lot of people are walking around with blinders on, as well as carrying a huge sense of entitlement that the big “they” in the sky will take care of everything. I don’t believe in panicking, but I do believe in being prepared — ‘cuz I happen to know that the big ole’ “they” is us.
My grandparents grew up in the Depression and said that before it happened, people were under the same impression that they are now — saying it couldn’t happen in our country and scorning anyone suggesting that people be prepared. My grandparents always had storage of staples and non-food items that they used regularly on hand (rotating these goods to use up the oldest first so nothing was wasted). It’s one of the reasons they thrived when others didn’t even survive.
All of us have responsibility to provide for ourselves and our families, and having family storage seems a good way to begin. It doesn’t have to involve a great outlay of funds all at once — and you can get the kids involved so it becomes an exercise in empowerment and self-sustainability while offering them a sense of security. Just buy two cans instead of one, and two rolls instead of one, when you shop. It adds up really fast. Keep enough water on hand for your family to have a gallon a day. And there’s no need to reinvent the wheel — there are lots of books and websites that have information about what and how much a family needs.
All the complaints we come up with regarding how inconvenient doing so might be, and wondering where we would even put storage if we had it … they will all seem rather petty if we find ourselves in need and without supply. Perhaps we should be asking ourselves instead how inconvenient it will be to watch our families (and beloved pets) starve.
Last year, during a particularly bad winter storm, the neighborhood I live in was without power for three days, and I can’t believe how many neighbors knocked on my door because they didn’t have enough food or water or candles or batteries or propane fuel canisters to take care of themselves for that short a period. I shared all I had on hand — and not one of those neighbors ever returned a thing. Since I can’t afford to provide for the neighborhood, I won’t be handing out supplies again.
I think it could/will get very ugly if those Safeway trucks don’t come … or those fuel tankers don’t arrive … and unfortunately, I think “when” really is more accurate than “if.” Too many people really are under the impression that it’s someone else’s responsibility to provide for their needs and they get so stuck on what they think “should” be that they miss the fact that if it doesn’t turn out that way, they’re outta luck.
If there’s ever an interest, there are lots of us who have a great deal of information and experience who would be glad to hold classes at the library or wherever to share this info with people. Our community has a community garden where families can grow produce (with lots of help) to feed themselves while saving money. I think ignorance is one of our biggest problems.
Sorry to go off, but it’s something so many of us are concerned about and it certain has to do with groceries!
Thank you Linda. I am so glad to see a few people have their eyes open. I totally agree on the ‘when’ as well, and unfortunately, I am afraid that time is coming very soon. I just read an excellent book called “One Second After” that describes just one possible scenario. I highly recommend it.
I read it last month. Wow! It really brings things home in a very non-drama kinda way. I’m so offended by many of the hardcore survivalists because I feel they are abrasive and have lost a sense of humanity. In “One Second After,” it really speaks to the common, decent, rational man in a way to which we can all relate. It also offered insight into preparations that could save our lives — thinks I would never have considered. The preface suggested that it should be read by every member of Congress and by every community leader in the country. I agree!