Boise is the hometown of Albertsons, and Albertsons is now the undisputed market leader, but it has also hosted a number of regional competitors over the years, including Buttrey (whose Boise stores Albertsons acquired in 1987), Smith’s Food King (mid-1970s through 1989), and Safeway (from its pre-1928 time as Skaggs United to the early 1980s).
This is a list of all known chain grocery addresses in Boise between 1925 and 2015, compiled from city directories, telephone books, and other sources. It is generated through a live Google Spreadsheet so it reflects the latest information I have.
View and download a copy of this location spreadsheet via Google Sheets.
Notes:
- Fred Meyer store apparently began operating in the Boise area in the mid-1980s, but may of the early stores did not contain grocery departments and the chain is not listed among “grocers” in the city directories. I hope to add entries for the chain at a later date.
Store tags:
- Alberstons
- Buttrey
- IGA
- M&W
- Piggly Wiggly
- Safeway
- Skaggs
- Smith’s Food King
- Waremart/Winco
