I stopped into Safeway this morning after my class to pick up some Elmer’s glue.
What I found was a situation one firearm short of needing UN peacekeepers.
First of all, there was 1 parking spot in the entire parking lot (which I had to wait for). I didn’t expect the place to be crowded at 10am.
Next, this Safeway is undergoing extensive remodeling and construction - while remaining open for business.
Third - They just received several deliveries.
I was stunned. There were overweight construction workers in suspenders, little old ladies, stockboys and soccer moms in every aisle. Paths perpendicular to the aisles were crowded with racks of merchandise waiting to be stocked. Since they were moving merchandise around, about half of everything in the store was either an empty shelf, or not marked with a price.
I managed to find my Elmer’s glue, along with a TIME magazine and a Stapler that was on sale (I couldn’t resist), and made it to the checkout area. After standing in line long enough to need a shave (I don’t know why this store only opens 3 checkout lanes no matter what), I was able to pay for my goods and depart.
After, of course, waiting behind the guy who bought 18 (I counted) cans of Chunky Beef stew, and held up the line while he ordered (you can do that??) several more cases, since he had cleaned off their shelves.
Wow. Luckily I made it out intact, so I could post herein my tale of the way-way-too-busy Safeway.
Wow here in Phoenix they remodeled and added a starbucks as well. This was not too long ago, maybe a month. I love the new safeway. Wood floors in the produce section, a decent flower and plant selection etc…etc… the only thing I don’t like - is the silly thunder and lightning recording when they mist the veggies.
We have a Wal-mart here going through a similar situation. They are remodeling half the store, so they’ve squeezed all the merchandise into the other half.
Journeying to Wal-mart is hellish enough as it is without being smashed into the tiny little one-size-fits none isles that they have in there now. It feels like there are people EVERYWHERE. All around you, on top of you, crawling underneath you… like one of those pictures of thousands of tortured souls swirling in Hades.
Oh man, I have to say, I’ve always thought that was the coolest thing ever. They spent extra time to do something unique. You so rarely see that in the business world anymore… it doesn’t bring em in any extra money, it’s just ‘neat’ for the sake of being neat. I like that.
It also prevents customers from complaining because they got an unexpected shower while picking out their broccoli. It’s not a “just because” thing, unfortunately.
Also, at 10 a.m. I’m betting that they didn’t have staff for more than three registers, just FYI.
Are you nuts? That’s probably the coolest thing about the store! When my kids were tiny they’d beg to go to the produce section and make me wait until the sprinklers came on!
Yes! They are putting in a little Starbucks island (replacing a few of the checkout counters they never use) amongst major building construction/renovation/expansion.
And what makes you think its a recording? :dubious:
CynicalGabe, I thought I was going to read about you hiding behind the kitty snacks with gun fire overhead.
Hey, it happened to a friend late one night. She decided to do her grocery shopping at 12:30 am. The closest 24 hour grocery was a Safeway in one of the worst neighborhoods in Seattle. (I know, how bad could that be?)
She heard shouting from the front of the store, then gun fire. She was smart enough to hit the deck. Then it was quiet for a long time. She said 10 minutes, but it was probably 3 minutes. Then a cop with a bullhorn made an announcement about the store being locked down and for everyone to stay where they were until an officer came to them. She was there for 3 hours.
I find that most Seattle neighbourhoods are fine in the daytime, but at night, some are… “questionable”. Except here in Ballard, unless you want to count those ultra-violent Norwegians.
