Spiffing up Safeway

COEUR d'ALENE - One of the city's oldest continuously operating grocery stores is in the midst of a renovation that will top $2 million.

The Safeway store at 1001 N. Fourth St. already has a fresh coat of paint on the outside nearly complete, and work continues each night on much of the interior.

"We had the original flooring in this store," said Bobbie Ranck, store manager.

The old store that serves both as a small supermarket and small neighborhood market is becoming a "lifestyle store," like the Safeway on Neider Avenue, she said. That includes a decor package, with the expanded produce section getting a rustic wood floor with produce bins that match.

There will be an increase in the selection of organic produce, Ranck said.

"It's a big thing," she said.

Also growing is the floral department.

Throughout the rest of the store, new tile flooring is going in, with lighter colors in the aisles. Softer lighting is being installed, and the walls and ceiling are being repainted.

The dairy department is now equipped with more efficient coolers with doors.

"I'm so excited about this," said Ranck, who has worked in numerous Safeway stores and chose the Midtown store as her final stop in her career with the company.

"I asked to come to this store," she said. "I love Coeur d'Alene, the size of this store, and the community here. Our customers who shop here, their kids shopped here and their kids' kids shopped here."

The deli department is getting an "extreme makeover," she said. A small bakery will make fresh bread, muffins, rolls pies and cakes, but no doughnuts or bagels.

A sliced meat section and salads and a sandwich bar where meals will be made to order is part of the renovation.

While the store is not getting larger, space is being used more efficiently by rearranging and adding shelves.

The improvements in the Midtown area are improving business, and the renovation is expected to help.

"We have a very loyal clientele," Ranck said.

It is also a popular and convenient spot for summer visitor to shop.

"I call it the little resort store," she said.

One regular shopper at the Midtown Safeway is Katie Lawr, who lives nearby.

"It is nice so far," she said.

The store presently employs about 40, but with the expanded products five to 10 additional will be hired, Ranck said.

She said there had been worries among the customers the store would close, but the upgrades should quell those concerns.

"They wouldn't be spending the money if it was going to close," she said.

Work is expected to be finished around April 1. A grand reopening preview party will be April 23, and the grand reopening on April 24 with music and product samples.

The store is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Most of the work is being done during off hours.