1606 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

helicopter parents.  back in the day we didn't ask/let our parents get involved in our graduation activities beyond the daytime diploma ceremony.

[Matt R.]

Why are you always such an ass?

Matt.

[Greg]

Random question.  Which Thrifty Foods Stores in Victoria are the largest in terms of square footage? Or they all the same size?

[aastra]

They range widely in size since some of them were converted older supermarket spaces and some of them were purpose-built as Thrifty's stores. Methinks Royal Oak must be the largest?

[aastra]

 

...converted older supermarket spaces...

 

Or even converted non-supermarket spaces.

[Nparker]

Or even converted non-supermarket spaces.

Like Hillside Mall, which I believe was a hardware store before it became one of the more crowded Thrifty Foods locations.

[m3m]

Admirals must be pretty large too

[johnk2]

Like Hillside Mall, which I believe was a hardware store before it became one of the more crowded Thrifty Foods locations.

It was Beaver Lumber IIRC

[Nparker]

It was Beaver Lumber IIRC

And wasn't this space some sort of day spa or such long ago?

[Rob Randall]

^Yes, European Spa, back in the 70s, 80s. I believe it was demolished to make way for the new Beaver/Thrifty. 

[Victoria Watcher]

is a supermarket coming to the post office site on fort?

[aastra]

You mean the old Safeway location? I heard a new Safeway was going in there.

 

Let's stir up another great debate similar to the one we had back in the day re: the progression of Starbucks locations in Victoria (recollections were shattered, virtual friendships were shattered). For a long while it was Safeway that ruled the supermarket scene in Victoria and on the entire west coast. Fairfield Plaza was a Safeway, James Bay was a Safeway, Quadra at Kings was a Safeway, etc. Anyway, when Thrifty Foods first started up, their first store was in the former Safeway space in the Fairfield Plaza, yes? So what was the second location? The former Safeway space in James Bay? Was the Thrifty's space on the Colwood strip built for them or did it already exist as something else? (I remember Thrifty's moving in there, but I could be wrong) And exactly when was the Fairfield Plaza born? In the 1950s? And how many Piggly Wiggly stores did Victoria ever have?

 

I'll let this board's old-timers ponder these questions for two minutes before I start getting impatient...

[Nparker]

is a supermarket coming to the post office site on fort?

Yes.

[Kapten Kapsell]

is a supermarket coming to the post office site on fort?

Yes, and it might even be open now too.

 

See https://www.urban-grocer.ca/

Edited by Kapten Kapsell, 07 July 2020 - 12:50 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

colwood strip thruftys was something different as late as the 90’s.

an independent.

crown foods or something.


what about Kickapoo Joy Juice? we ever have that available here?

https://en.m.wikiped...kapoo_Joy_Juice

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 July 2020 - 12:52 PM.

[Matt R.]

is a supermarket coming to the post office site on fort?

“Bring it on.” —Said no one ever apparently

Matt.

[Rob Randall]

colwood strip thruftys was something different as late as the 90’s.

an independent.

crown foods or something.

 

IGA then became a Hi-Way Supermarket as late as 1980 and Thrifty by 1997. Maybe something in between.

[aastra]

 

And how many Piggly Wiggly stores did Victoria ever have?

 

This advertisement from 1937 identified six Piggly Wiggly stores in Victoria.

 

739 Fort Street

1627 Douglas Street

1803 Fort Street

2253 Oak Bay Avenue

1274 May Street

301 Menzies

 

Also, check out this 1930s pic of the interior of the little Safeway on Fort Street (the post office site).

 

Nothing ever changes in sleepy Victoria. Except when the biggest Safeway store in B.C. opened in 1955 at Quadra and Kings. And also except when that formerly revolutionary Safeway store was torn down barely 20 years later and re-built as a modern "Disco" Centre Safeway on the Kings Road end of the property. And also except when the formerly new 1974 building ceased to be a supermarket and became The Brick furniture store. And also except when The Brick left and the building became a supermarket again in the 2000s. But other than that, nothing ever changes. Did we ever talk about how ~150 houses in that same neighbourhood were erased in one fell swoop for the Blanshard-Rose extension? Nothing ever changes in Victoria.

 

The 1955 store was a pretty big deal. It's worth a read. So the Safeway chain pioneered the consistent charging for produce by the pound? Didn't know that.

 

 

Daily Colonist
December 11, 1955

Biggest Safeway in B.C.

Gigantic Store Latest Word in Food Selling

Parking for 197 Cars

Victoria shoppers will see the very last word in a retail food store when Safeway opens its biggest B.C. store at 2635 Quadra Street...

A master construction job which began with the driving of piles from 35 to 80 feet down to bed rock will be climaxed when the sparkling glass doors swing open at 9 a.m.

The giant new store -- 19,000 square feet of gleaming floor space -- is full of innovations, from its pastel sectional walls identifying different food sections to its eight new check-out stalls.

Officials say everything has been designed for shoppers' comfort and convenience -- to make food shopping a pleasant experience instead of a chore.

One notable feature is the "back-stage" loading of produce, meat and bakery stalls. Staff can keep the stalls full without wheeling dollies out onto the floor space and getting in the way of customers.

The specially designed check stands operate mechanically on a rotary table system to give rapid service. The shopping "buggies" are channeled through a special passage without clogging shopping space.

PLAY CORNER
One delightful feature is a "kiddy corner" for shoppers' small fry. The tots can play and read at little tables...

And father won't have any trouble finding a slot for the family car. The parking lot covers 84,000 square feet with accommodation for 197 cars. It is laid out with curbs and directional lanes to assist traffic flows.

The eight check-out stands are also equipped with a new type of cash register which show the customer's change as well as itemizing his purchases by categories on the sales slip.

And should you forget the address, just stand within four blocks and you can't miss the sign. The 60-foot structure on enormous steel girders is one of the biggest in the city.

Edited by aastra, 07 July 2020 - 02:59 PM.

[Nparker]

As a child I thought the Safeway Disco at Quadra/Kings was groceries during the day and the local version of Studio 54 at night. 

[Victoria Watcher]

And father won't have any trouble finding a slot for the family car. The parking lot covers 84,000 square feet with accommodation for 197 cars. It is laid out with curbs and directional lanes to assist traffic flows.




ah ha! goes to my male drivers thread. nothing has changed since 1955.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 July 2020 - 03:12 PM.