It’s been quite some time since the last time I posted on this blog. A lot of things have changed since then. One in particular, is my working for Schwans Consumer Brands.. better known as Red Baron. I spent 5 years working for them, and quite honestly I liked it. I liked the fact that I was able to go into different grocery stores and observe their day-to-day operations. I also went from working daytime hours to working overnights throwing freight.. or rather stocking shelves. It’s really all the same. I’ve also had the opportunity to go into stores that are closing, or on the verge of closing. One store I recently had the chance to go into, was the Safeway store located at 67th Avenue and Peoria. Safeway #3154. It was a long time fixture in that area of Peoria. In fact the wife and I shopped there when we had our first apartment nearby over 20 years ago. There was also a time.. Sometime in the late nineties, when it (ironically) closed due to poor sales. It probably stayed dormant for a couple of years, until sales and the population picked up in the area. Well that wasn’t the case this time. This Safeway, like several others before in the Phoenix area, was closing…permanently. It this all happened by chance.. my going into this Safeway that is. I had called my long time friend John…a former coworker, who happened to be at the store greeting and talking to union members who were being relocated. Since it was on my way home, I figured I would stop by for a visit with John, and see what was going on there at the store. Luckily I had brought along my one useless android phone that takes decent pictures. After arriving, I asked one of the associates where I could find John. She directed me to the break room. Looking around, the store was empty.. of product that is. The aisles were all there…except they were all roped off with yellow caution tape. The only exception being three small aisles crammed with what little product was left in the store. To be honest, the whole thing was quite sad to look at. When I walked in the break room, my friend John was there with one other person. As soon as I looked at the other person I knew immediately who it was. It was an old Fry’s associate of mine named Mark Kindler. Not only had I not seen or worked with him over 21 years, but he also recognized me immediately. It was really weird. After some catching up, I had mentioned to him about my blog and especially my interest in things “abandoned”. He asked me “Do you want to look around?” “Absolutely” I replied. We walked out into the store and stepped beyond the caution tape. I made some observations, had some more conversation with Mark, took some pictures, and left. I’ll be honest, there isn’t anything very remarkable about a half empty grocery store that’s on its last legs. Visually or otherwise. It wasn’t one you could call pleasing to the eye by any means. It was definitely stuck in the 1990’s..or earlier. Dated. To think of how many people probably shopped here over the years. I guess it probably had a life of it’s own..in essence. I think every building does. For me though, there’s something special about it..something to document..to preserve. More so because I’m in this industry. A new chain called Haggen will probably occupy this space in a few months, as an agreement having to do with locations was struck between them, Albertsons and Safeway. I guess we’ll see… 🙂 I hope you enjoy…and please leave comments.
..the former cheese wall/deli meats area
shelves in the Bakery dept w the “cheese wall” in the distance..the higher row of shelves…
This was where all of the bread was kept..so empty..
A view from inside the Bakery Dept looking out to the store..
..inside the bakery
..produce
..aisles w caution tape from the backside, off limits to the general public..
The main Meat Dept bunker…
This is a view from the back aisle looking east toward the Bakery and Pharmacy. If you look closely, You’ll see a forklift ready to dismantle all of the gondolas and signs thanking customers for their patronage and directing them to the next nearest Safeway. This area was also off limits to the general public..
…another view of the Meat Department with an empty bunker in the foreground…
..looking west across the front end of the store..
My old friend Mark Kindler… 🙂
..another view of the front end..this time of the empty freezer cases…
..this is where the ice machines were kept…
The Produce Dept looking toward the back of the store…
..part of the Produce and the Floral Dept
..A shot of the front of the store with the cautionary tape over the aisles off limits to the general public
The front end of Safeway #3154. This was the last day the store was in operation.
The front of Safeway #3154 located at 67th Ave and Peoria.
Another shot of Safeway #3154 with it’s “store closing” sign at the top.
