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 chain grocery locations my research has uncovered in Boise between 1925 and 2015, compiled from city directories, telephone books, and other sources. There may be some omissions due to incomplete or missing data, etc. and I welcome suggestions and corrections. Please read about my methodology for more information about what I do and do not include.
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
