Albertsons owner to buy Safeway
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sudsmaster
Well-known member
I believe Lucky's was also a Bay Area based chain, with a major distribution center in San Leandro as well as an iconic mid-century landmark store (since demolished to make way for a parking lot).
I used to shop at Lucky's before it became Albertson's. After the name changed back to Lucky's I went back and it was OK. Then I guess Cerberus reared its multi-headed devil dog crania and ruined Lucky's - I expect no less if they get their fangs sunk into Safeway.
I didn't care much for Safeway's makeover that took place about eight years ago. They put in dimmer (warmer?) lighting and brown tones. Then they crowded the checkout areas with overpriced boutique style soup stations etc. Big inconveniences. I still shop at Safeway, but at their Pak 'n Save subsidiary, which is more spacious with less nonsense. I keep the club card and load up on frozen entrees when they go on sale, for bringing to work for a quick lunch. Also use Pak N Save for fresh veggies when Costco doesn't have what I need (like radishes, cucumbers, etc).
Cerberus of course is a disaster. What can one expect from a company that promotes Dan Quayle to a high level executive position?
I used to shop at Lucky's before it became Albertson's. After the name changed back to Lucky's I went back and it was OK. Then I guess Cerberus reared its multi-headed devil dog crania and ruined Lucky's - I expect no less if they get their fangs sunk into Safeway.
I didn't care much for Safeway's makeover that took place about eight years ago. They put in dimmer (warmer?) lighting and brown tones. Then they crowded the checkout areas with overpriced boutique style soup stations etc. Big inconveniences. I still shop at Safeway, but at their Pak 'n Save subsidiary, which is more spacious with less nonsense. I keep the club card and load up on frozen entrees when they go on sale, for bringing to work for a quick lunch. Also use Pak N Save for fresh veggies when Costco doesn't have what I need (like radishes, cucumbers, etc).
Cerberus of course is a disaster. What can one expect from a company that promotes Dan Quayle to a high level executive position?
Fresh and Easy is still around, although I think they have closed quite a few stores. They're small-ish stores but have some decent deals. A lot of their merchandising brings to mind Trader Joe's, but they also carry major brands.
It's all self-checkout, which people may or may not like.
It's all self-checkout, which people may or may not like.
Lucky Stores
The revival of Lucky markets was facilitated by Save Mart stores, which I believe has its HQ in Modesto, CA.
Save Mart bought some or all of the northern California Albertsons that Cerberus sold off when they acquired that chain. I tried the reincarnated Lucky's once, and that was enough. Selection was lousy, as was the quality of their produce. They're basically a low-brow and stripped-down Save Mart.
Just yesterday some circulars arrived in the mail, among them one for Save Mart and another for Lucky. The front page on both of them had identical layouts and prices. I didn't bother to check them out any further.
My area is so saturated with Safeways that it will take some driving to get to an alternative once the carnage begins. I'm hoping I'll like the Sprouts supermarket that's scheduled to open within a reasonable distance later this year. I've never been in one, but their prices appear to be fairly competitive.
The revival of Lucky markets was facilitated by Save Mart stores, which I believe has its HQ in Modesto, CA.
Save Mart bought some or all of the northern California Albertsons that Cerberus sold off when they acquired that chain. I tried the reincarnated Lucky's once, and that was enough. Selection was lousy, as was the quality of their produce. They're basically a low-brow and stripped-down Save Mart.
Just yesterday some circulars arrived in the mail, among them one for Save Mart and another for Lucky. The front page on both of them had identical layouts and prices. I didn't bother to check them out any further.
My area is so saturated with Safeways that it will take some driving to get to an alternative once the carnage begins. I'm hoping I'll like the Sprouts supermarket that's scheduled to open within a reasonable distance later this year. I've never been in one, but their prices appear to be fairly competitive.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Seasoned Bay Area people like Ralph and I probably remember the Raymond Lowey designed old Lucky stores with their yellow and green tile exteriors. I recall one on Bascom Avenue and the one my parents shopped at on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Willow Glen. Who didn't appreciate markets with windows that allowed you to see in and out of?
Joe, that picture captures the look of the Lucky on Bascom Avenue, although the layout was flipped around.
I loved the Loewy designed tile tower with its white neon back-lit logo on top. It was a landmark that could be seen when passing over Bascom on the freeway. I tried to get some traction for saving that store when it was up for demolition after the first sale of the Lucky chain back in the '80s and solicited the help of the San Jose Mercury's architectural critic Allan Hess (author of "Googie" and other such books) but he wasn't interested, which seemed odd to me. I also thought it would be the perfect solution for the crowded little Zanotto's down the street.
A Burger King strip mall replaced the store. How that could ever be seen as an improvement is beyond me.
I found a roll of blueprints for a Sacramento Lucky store many years ago. I never did anything with them, and the store is long gone. I brought them to Kevin's wash-in a couple of years ago and Greg took them off my hands.
Here's a shot I lifted of a Lucky circa 1956. It has the peaked roof like the one that was located on Alma Street in Palo Alto for many years.
I loved the Loewy designed tile tower with its white neon back-lit logo on top. It was a landmark that could be seen when passing over Bascom on the freeway. I tried to get some traction for saving that store when it was up for demolition after the first sale of the Lucky chain back in the '80s and solicited the help of the San Jose Mercury's architectural critic Allan Hess (author of "Googie" and other such books) but he wasn't interested, which seemed odd to me. I also thought it would be the perfect solution for the crowded little Zanotto's down the street.
A Burger King strip mall replaced the store. How that could ever be seen as an improvement is beyond me.
I found a roll of blueprints for a Sacramento Lucky store many years ago. I never did anything with them, and the store is long gone. I brought them to Kevin's wash-in a couple of years ago and Greg took them off my hands.
Here's a shot I lifted of a Lucky circa 1956. It has the peaked roof like the one that was located on Alma Street in Palo Alto for many years.
What a great looking store! My grandmother in Orange County always like to shop at Lucky. I don't remember what her store looked like but sure do recall heading down there in the '64 Ford wagon, white with the red interior ("we had to wait six weeks to get that red interior!").
Veering further from Safeway . . .
Here's a picture-of-a-picture of the side/parking lot entrance of the Bascom Avenue Lucky taken in August of 1985. I think the store was closed as part of the Albertsons buy-out less than a year later, as it was too small to be a viable "super" market anymore.
A Canadian chain bought some of Albertson's discards, and this store was one of them. The neon lit Lucky logo on the tower was replaced with your basic florescent lit plastic signage in yellow with "Quality Plus," the new chain's name. It didn't last long, and once QP was out of there, the store was toast.
In this shot, the original "Magic Carpet" doors were still in use. I've seen some Lucky pix that show this same type of entrance updated with motion sensor sliders instead.
Here's a picture-of-a-picture of the side/parking lot entrance of the Bascom Avenue Lucky taken in August of 1985. I think the store was closed as part of the Albertsons buy-out less than a year later, as it was too small to be a viable "super" market anymore.
A Canadian chain bought some of Albertson's discards, and this store was one of them. The neon lit Lucky logo on the tower was replaced with your basic florescent lit plastic signage in yellow with "Quality Plus," the new chain's name. It didn't last long, and once QP was out of there, the store was toast.
In this shot, the original "Magic Carpet" doors were still in use. I've seen some Lucky pix that show this same type of entrance updated with motion sensor sliders instead.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Why I shop at Stater Bros. and avoid Walmart
I have this thing about dogs in food stores. There's a California State Law that prohibits dogs from being brought into a grocery store, in fact any store that carries food items. The exception is supposed to be service dogs which require the owner to carry a permit. One of the hardware stores I used to work for had to pay hefty fine for allowing dogs in the store even though all they carried were dried fruit and nuts.
I used to occasionally go to one of the local Walmarts. I began to see more and more dogs in carts or on leashes. On one visit I counted 6 dogs. Then, while walking through a clothing area I stepped in a pile of dog poop. It was not pretty. I took a shirt off a rack, dropped the hanger and wiped my shoe off, then proceeded to their crowded customer service area and asked to see the dufus store manager. I handed him the stinky shirt and told him what happened and he replied "no one who works for Walmart is allowed to say anything to a customer about their dogs." It was the last time I was in Walmart store.
When I was in the local Stater Bros. market near me I did in fact see the store manager ask 2 guys with a poodle in their shopping cart to either show him proof that Fifi was indeed a service dog or to leave. He was professional and courteous. I'm not sure how others feel about dogs in food stores.
I love dogs, but my Holly (and her partner Maggie) stay home on shopping trips.
I have this thing about dogs in food stores. There's a California State Law that prohibits dogs from being brought into a grocery store, in fact any store that carries food items. The exception is supposed to be service dogs which require the owner to carry a permit. One of the hardware stores I used to work for had to pay hefty fine for allowing dogs in the store even though all they carried were dried fruit and nuts.
I used to occasionally go to one of the local Walmarts. I began to see more and more dogs in carts or on leashes. On one visit I counted 6 dogs. Then, while walking through a clothing area I stepped in a pile of dog poop. It was not pretty. I took a shirt off a rack, dropped the hanger and wiped my shoe off, then proceeded to their crowded customer service area and asked to see the dufus store manager. I handed him the stinky shirt and told him what happened and he replied "no one who works for Walmart is allowed to say anything to a customer about their dogs." It was the last time I was in Walmart store.
When I was in the local Stater Bros. market near me I did in fact see the store manager ask 2 guys with a poodle in their shopping cart to either show him proof that Fifi was indeed a service dog or to leave. He was professional and courteous. I'm not sure how others feel about dogs in food stores.
I love dogs, but my Holly (and her partner Maggie) stay home on shopping trips.
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Lucky's was founded in the peninsula in the 1930's, but it really didn't take off until after WWII, when in 1947 it opened one of the first supermarkets as its flagship store in downtown San Leandro. This store featured firsts such as an in-house coffee shop and was Lowry designed.
Here are some shots:
Here are some shots:
sudsmaster
Well-known member
More flagship Lucky #50 shots:
sudsmaster
Well-known member
And...
sudsmaster
Well-known member
Lastly. Sadly, this location was finally shut down in 2005 due to declining revenue and a city plan to redevelop the area. Typically, it's been a vacant parking lot since then!
Please note that the big tower and covered drive were long gone by the 1990's...
Please note that the big tower and covered drive were long gone by the 1990's...
arbilab
Well-known member
I gravitated to Lucky when I lived in Milpitas/San Jose in the late 80s.
Dogs in supermarkets.
I don't think they are allowed up here in New England. I am a dog person but I wouldn't think of taking my dog into a supermarket.
Walmart ... I honestly don't know what to make of them lately. I think they are on the decline. Ever since they went into the supermarket business up here they no longer stock there other areas very well. I have to go to a Walmart without the grocery section to find a well stocked dry goods area.
I don't think they are allowed up here in New England. I am a dog person but I wouldn't think of taking my dog into a supermarket.
Walmart ... I honestly don't know what to make of them lately. I think they are on the decline. Ever since they went into the supermarket business up here they no longer stock there other areas very well. I have to go to a Walmart without the grocery section to find a well stocked dry goods area.
Dogs in Grocery Stores
Are becoming more common, ugh...
I've been in some Wal-Mart's (pre-grocery) which were pathetically stocked and some which were immaculately clean and well stocked (the two towns are vastly different too - we were told "if you return it, take it to Valpo" - this was in Michigan City iirc).
Are becoming more common, ugh...
I've been in some Wal-Mart's (pre-grocery) which were pathetically stocked and some which were immaculately clean and well stocked (the two towns are vastly different too - we were told "if you return it, take it to Valpo" - this was in Michigan City iirc).
whirlcool
Well-known member
A lot of people abuse the "service dog" entitlement. Some people can get their certificates for an "emotional support dog" just by mailing in a check to get the card. A lot of this is pure BS. Some states are tightening the rules to ensure that the dog actually does perform a service for the owner and that it has been trained to be around people and crowds and knows how to behave itself.
Some people don't even bother. They approach airline boarding gates with a dog, tell the agent it's an "emotional support service dog" when really it's not. They just want their dog to be with them. And this type of activity makes it harder for people who really do need/have a real service dog.
Last year there was a disabled veteran who got tossed off of a flight at the gate because the flight attendants didn't think the dog was a service dog. The dog actually was a fully licensed and trained service dog trained to help the guy with his vision because he only had partial vision. The dog (German Shepard) was stowed under a row of seats as they are trained to do during their training. The F/A's didn't like that. Even though the dog had it's picture ID card with him the airline wouldn't accept it. See what I mean?
Some people don't even bother. They approach airline boarding gates with a dog, tell the agent it's an "emotional support service dog" when really it's not. They just want their dog to be with them. And this type of activity makes it harder for people who really do need/have a real service dog.
Last year there was a disabled veteran who got tossed off of a flight at the gate because the flight attendants didn't think the dog was a service dog. The dog actually was a fully licensed and trained service dog trained to help the guy with his vision because he only had partial vision. The dog (German Shepard) was stowed under a row of seats as they are trained to do during their training. The F/A's didn't like that. Even though the dog had it's picture ID card with him the airline wouldn't accept it. See what I mean?
