by Sara 

Local Thriftway bought by Metropolitan Market

36 Comments

It has been confirmed by the Thriftway folks that Metropolitan Market has purchased Magnolia Thriftway.? There aren’t many details available right now, but we will update as soon as more information?is available.

About the author 

Sara

    1. Actually, I am happy because I shopped at the Queen Anne one. Now I can do so here.

  1. I shop at TW almost daily due to location, fresh produce and friendly staff despite the fact that it’s more expensive than other stores. I hope MM doesn’t raise prices forcing me to shop elsewhere! And they better keep the longtime staff.

  2. Yesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Now can we do something about the Albertson’s, please?

  3. A good thing.?

    I agree the staff at Thriftway are very sweet. Hope they keep them. But the selection was just middling.?Strange?layout, too. Funny I was just commenting to my wife that I would probably stop shopping at Whole Paycheck if there were a Met Market in the neighborhood.

  4. While we could walk to Albertson’s we’ve never been able to shop there…terrible produce/fish and low end prepared foods.? We really enjoyed several of the staff at Thriftway, but never really drove there…once we are in the car we found a better selection and more quality produce at Shoreline’s Central Market.? Someday I wish walkable Albertson’d wasn’t such a low end choice.? No quality breads either.

    1. Seriously, why can’t Albertson’s get some decent breads? Their new “gourmet” breads are a joke AND expensive.?

      1. ?Everything in the Albertson’s bakery is shipped frozen and then thawed and/or baked.? It’s the place to go for cheap stuff, not quality.

        1. And there is a place in the community for low end.? Not everyone is? “into” eating well.? So Albertson’s is where one would go for fried foods.? And Whole Foods is where one would go to feel they are eating healthy according to the popular vibe.? The fun answer is, where does an educated family go once they know the difference between fried non-foods and?overpriced silly “cashew gravy” non meat patties at a place like Whole Foods, which has conservative ownership and laughs all the way to the bank.

          1. I don’t understand what fried foods has to do with anything. They have meat and veggies at Albertson’s and I don’t mind shopping there for certain things that i need on a regular basis (onions, lettuce, milk, eggs, etc) but the lack of decent bread means that half the time I end up driving somewhere else for the other items because I also need the bread… oh well.

          2. You are right.? I was using the word “fried foods” to stand for low quality foods that over time make people sick and obese.? Most people find the produce at Albertsons to be really low quality.? If the reason you are eating vegetables is because you love them maybe anywhere is fine.? If the reason is because you believe that they are a wise thing to be eating, you should buy them at a place that has them fresh and that has a great selection.? Why drive more than one place?? Just find a market you like that meets all your needs without gouging you or giving you substandard things…like the bread you mention.

  5. Best news I’ve heard all day. Agree that Met Market should keep the Thriftway staff.

  6. Interesting news since I rarely go to QFC and almost never to Albertsons. I generally like MM around town, so it could be a good thing. But yes, please retain the staff – nice people. I just hope MM won’t feel the need to tear down the building and replace it with something much bigger. They don’t seem like a chain that’s content?with?medium-sized neighborhood groceries like Thriftway. I hope they?keep the friendly scale. And Thriftway just put in that shockingly good liquor section with a nice emphasis on local products.

  7. Interesting news since I rarely go to QFC and almost never to Albertsons. I generally like MM around town, so it could be a good thing. But yes, please retain the staff – nice people. I just hope MM won’t feel the need to tear down the building and replace it with something much bigger. They don’t seem like a chain that’s content?with?medium-sized neighborhood groceries like Thriftway. I hope they?keep the friendly scale. And Thriftway just put in that shockingly good liquor section with a nice emphasis on local products.

  8. VERY SAD FOR MAGNOLIA. ?I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE, WE HAVE METRO MARKET…NICE STORE, NICE MEAT AND PRODUCE, BUT VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. ?IF IT SHOULD COST $5…METRO CHARGES $7,8,9 MAYBE EVEN $10…AND THEY DO IT WITH A SMILE. ?FLOWER SHOP PRICES ARE PROHIBITIVE…STAFF IS VERY ARROGANT

    1. Honestly, thats why we make the drive up to Central Market (owned by the same company as Ballard Town and Country).? Incredible seafood, meat, wines, fish and while its more expensive than say Safeway, its not ridiculous like Whole Foods.? 99% of what we eat is from the “outside aisles”…rarely prepared or frozen stuff and we’ve made the drive up there from Magnolia once a week for 8 years.? Check it out!

  9. I am sorry the owners sold – what a great family! ?I sure hope folks will be able to keep their jobs though a couple employees sure have attitudes.?I think Albertson’s produce has exceeded Thriftway’s and they are upgrading and improving many grocery items (meat NO!).

  10. I am sorry to hear that this is now confirmed.? Too bad!? I shop at Thriftway and have for years.? I know Jim and all the staff.? Let’s hope that they stay.? I certainly hope Met Market will be somewhere I feel comfortable shopping.? I’ve stopped at the upper Queen Anne Met and was not impressed.?

  11. The Interbay Whole Foods definitely impacted local shopping. I know that I stopped shopping for anything other than plastic bags, cleaners, and other non-food items once WF opened. The only question is now, is there enough of a market left for two grocery stores within a mile of each other. I guess one could ask the same question about all the Italian restaurants too…

    1. Sure, if what you cook and eat isn’t dictated by some conglomerate like Whole Foods.? I’ve been eating “natural” since 1970 and am in perfect health without the assistance of Whole Foods.? What I and my family have done is found sources of exciting real foods that are in as natural as possible form without the hype of organic (which counts for something but not sure exactly what) and without the labelling of a store that overprices everything.? Whole Foods is a convenient way to feel good about what you are eating without taking the time to figure out how to do it less expensively.? The quality of the foods in?the hot food bar absolutely sucks and is a joke.? The nice thing about being 60 and having been right is that I know what really matters when buying foods because it succeeded in avoiding diseases of bad eating in myself and my family.? Don’t need a Whole Foods and don’t need a Metropolitan Market.? Need to avoid chicken fingers, crap foods, and prepared? s***t.

        1. No more time to spend here, but let me put it this way.? From your posts you sound under 30.? I figure something on you is already starting to sag (male or female) and something in you isn’t what it was, performance wise.? Since I am usually taken to be 35, check with me when you are 60.

  12. I’m thrilled! ?I have shopped the Met for years. ?It’s a local company and I like to buy local. Between farmers markets and the Met, it couldn’t be more perfect. ?

  13. Thriftway is also a local company that was founded in 1945.? It has always been a network of?individually-owned markets.? We all have our favorites and we always will.? I’m just sorry to see it go

  14. Queen Anne’s loss is Magnolia’s gain! The irony is that the developer destryoing Queen Anne Ave and resulting in Met Market closing in upper Queen Anne, lives in MAgnolia. Just hope he doesn’t start doing to MAgnolia what he is doing to Queen Anne.

  15. UPGRADE! Good news for Magnolia.

    I second the commenter who questioned why Albertson’s is still around. The problem with our Albertson’s is not that it is affordable, but that it is NASTY. Low quality offerings in a depressing environment. I flatly disagree that affordability has to equal unpleasantness. I’ve seen lower- cost examples done better in Europe and even in other US cities.

    1. And I fully insist that Albertson’s is NOT affordable. ?$6 for a box of cereal is out of line. ?Yes, you can get extreme couponing deals IF you match a sale with a coupon, but you’re going to be eating pre-packaged and processed foods. ?The fresh stuff is not of good quality at all. ?I’ve had to return meat (purchased the same day) more than once. ?I’ll also note that I’ve found many items in their “clearance” bins that are STILL priced higher than other stores in the area.

  16. Please, please carry the croutons, the homemade ceaser dressing and the chili that you carry at the Met Market on QA Ave (the one that is closing down)
    YUM!

  17. I like the employees at Thriftway, but their whole chickens went to $9.99 like whole foods, so I shop at Fred Meyer now, after 17 years..$5.99 for the chicken.? They have a nice veggie meat section and good produce that doesn’t break the bank.?

  18. I like the employees at Thriftway, but their whole chickens went to $9.99 like whole foods, so I shop at Fred Meyer now, after 17 years..$5.99 for the chicken.? They have a nice veggie meat section and good produce that doesn’t break the bank.?

  19. Most of you people obviously have never shopped at Metro Mkt ?W Seattle Lower Q Anne or Sand pt. Their standards are much higher than any store in town. Yes some things do cost a little more. You get what you pay for. Thriftway needed to be totally renovated new freezers coolers deli equip everything. metro is doing them a favor by buying them now.

  20. Happy about the change, but I hope hope hope that keep the staff, especially the old timers. The staff is part of my little grocery community.

  21. I hope they keep the staff also! We go to Thriftway for small items or things we forgot because it’s close, but do the bulk of our shopping at the Ballard Market. We’re thrilled Metropolitan Market is coming! The one on lower QA is the best supermarket in all of Seattle.

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