Valu Mart in the Seattle, Tacoma, Everett area
Posted: 21 Mar 2007 10:04
I know this name gets used quite a bit for grocery stores in different parts of the country but this one covers the Seattle based discount store chain that carried groceries and variety goods from the 50s, 60s and 70s. They started as a membership store like Gov't Mart did and eliminated that requirement back in the mid 60s at the the same time the competition (Gov Mart) did.
In the 70s they got out of the grocery business and leased the grocery sections to other companies such as Associated Grocers (most turned into Mark It Foods). They even switched their name to Leslies in 1974 before selling the company to Fred Meyer.
In the Midway neighborhood of Kent, Washington was a Fred Meyer that started as a Valu Mart back in 1967 or 1968. It was a very nice store in its day and better looking than the Tacoma and Georgetown locations (but not as nice as the Burien store when they took over the White Front and made it their flagship store). I shopped at this particular store for almost 40 years. Another one of the same design was built in Everett which Fluke would later move into to but they vacated that site several years ago.
The original store was torn down in Midway a few months ago. Fred Meyer is going to build a new store on the property from the ground up. It will also include a gas station where the Denny's used to be. This should be a big improvement to the neighborhood when it's completed.
I was curious if anyone knew why the chain fell apart in the 70s so fast. This company was everywhere. They even had sponsored a hydroplane that had an unusual design to it.
I don't know this if is true or not but didn't Valu Mart have an association with Weisfields at one time?
In the 70s they got out of the grocery business and leased the grocery sections to other companies such as Associated Grocers (most turned into Mark It Foods). They even switched their name to Leslies in 1974 before selling the company to Fred Meyer.
In the Midway neighborhood of Kent, Washington was a Fred Meyer that started as a Valu Mart back in 1967 or 1968. It was a very nice store in its day and better looking than the Tacoma and Georgetown locations (but not as nice as the Burien store when they took over the White Front and made it their flagship store). I shopped at this particular store for almost 40 years. Another one of the same design was built in Everett which Fluke would later move into to but they vacated that site several years ago.
The original store was torn down in Midway a few months ago. Fred Meyer is going to build a new store on the property from the ground up. It will also include a gas station where the Denny's used to be. This should be a big improvement to the neighborhood when it's completed.
I was curious if anyone knew why the chain fell apart in the 70s so fast. This company was everywhere. They even had sponsored a hydroplane that had an unusual design to it.
I don't know this if is true or not but didn't Valu Mart have an association with Weisfields at one time?