A couple of Albertson’s in my area have closed in recent years. Fred Meyer and Safeway seem to be going strong, along with some of the more upscale places like Whole Foods and Central Market (I don’t know if Central Market is independent or part of a chain.) And in the pharmacy niche, we now have Rite Aid and Walgreen’s everywhere, with the edge going to Walgreen’s. (Rite Aid has a bit more of a blue collar feel, and I’ve heard rumors they’re struggling.)
Here is an irony. There is a chain that started out in my hometown area as a grocery store that has expanded to become a store like Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart. This chain is called Meijer. Its founder is Hendrik Meijer and his son Fred, just died a couple weeks ago.
I thought the Fred Meyer stores on the west coast were more jewelry stores instead of the grocery or discount department store. I have a Fred Meyer Jewelry store in my mall.