September 20th, 2007 @ 12:20 am by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings
You’ll have to forgive me as I’m stepping a bit outside of Seattle for this one. There are two blogs that have caught my eye lately:
Groceteria.com covers the history of the American supermarket (both the architecture and business) from the 20’s through 80’s. And
Pleasant Family Shopping describes itself as a nostalgic look back at supermarkets and discount stores of the past. These are great reads and highly recommended. My tie-in here is downtown Bellevue’s
vintage Safeway anachronism right in the midst of cranes littering the skyline. This one is just a block away from where I work and I wanted to capture it because, as you can guess, its
days are numbered. Let’s have a closer look.
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The marina-style Safeway stands just across the street from Bellevue Square Mall. Developer Kemper Freeman will turn the site into a mixed use highrise after demolition.
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Close up of the Safeway facade lettering. The window reflects exactly what is encroaching on this vintage relic.
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Interior shot of aisles 5 through 10.
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Interior shot of the checkout stands.
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The entrance wall of the building features the “It’s our pleasure…” slogan.
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The produce department has newer signage juxtaposed with older.
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September 20th, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Thank you for the present day nostalgia Cliffe. I have a lot of good and bad memories of that old Safeway that I’ve been shopping at on and off for over 35 years.
The people there are nice, but I prefer QFC where there seems to be a better selection (I can get fresh sushi or sandwiches) and faster service.
September 23rd, 2007 @ 7:54 am
Just wanted to say I enjoy your site alot. Glad I found it.
It really is sad to see these buildings go with so few having a chance to be saved. Does make you wonder sometimes if 50 years from now the stip malls and fast food joints of today will be looked at with the same nostalgia we look at the old brick mainstreets from before WW2.
September 24th, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
As much as I enjoy the building’s retro 60’s look, I’m not a fan of how the grocery store has not been well kept up. It’s a bit dirty, and while I like gritty buildings, this is not extended to places I’m buying or eating food. It will be sad to see the building go though. Bellevue’s downtown doesn’t have much charm left, I’m afraid…
Anyway, apologies for the delay on your comments, guys. The spam catcher mistakenly caught them. They’re live now. Thanks for the positive comments.
Cliffe
Vintage Seattle dot Org
October 10th, 2007 @ 11:49 am
I can remember when that was the “new” Safeway in Bellevue. In the Fifties, they had one of those older style Safeways that was shaped sort of like a Quonset hut, and it was set much closer to the street. You used to see those old Safeway buildings all over the country. I believe they tore that one down to replace it with this one in the early Sixties. There was also an A&P in the old Bellevue Square - those were the two supermarkets in Bellevue back then.
November 9th, 2007 @ 11:44 am
I was actually just here yesterday, and was going to blog on this, but your pictures are better than my blurry cameraphone ones. I have to agree that as a historical relic this store is interesting for the rather unusual hodgepodge of various design themes used in Safeway stores. You can find original Sixties design elements next to eighties and nineties decor, right up to modern stuff.
I do have to agree that as a grocery store, it’s not exactly a nice place to shop though. The aisles are narrow and crowded, the refrigerated display cases are old and shopworn, and the place has definitely seen better days. I guess I’m a bit spoiled by having a really nice QFC just a couple of blocks from my apartment though…
November 11th, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
I might be waxing a bit nostalgic here, but I grew up in Bellevue and remember going to this Safeway with Mom in the mid 60s. They gave away free kiddie tickets to the John Danz Theatre on Saturday afternoons for a spaghetti western.
Today, I still live in Bellevue, and shop at the old Safeway on a regular basis. What I love about it is the simplicity. You can park in front, the layout is straightforward and I know where everything is. The prices are reasonable unlike the swanky Whole Foods or Gucci Q..aka QFC.
I like to get my basics there and get the fancy stuff at Trader Joes which is small and straightforward too.
Grocery shopping for me is about efficiency, good prices and ease. Old Safeway rules! I will need a 12 step program to help me deal with it’s demise!
Thanks for venturing into Bellevue.
January 4th, 2008 @ 12:12 am
There is a similiar designed Safeway in the Puyallup Valley, right next to what is being developed as the new City Hall. Probably the same architects. Bowstring roof construction and all.
March 12th, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
You should perhaps check out the Safeway in downtown Bothell too. It’s even more preserved and smaller than this one!