Groceteria.com

Around 82-84 Safeway worked with design firm Doody to open some large format prototypes in TX, OK, and one near headquarters in San Ramon, CA.

Here is a news story about the avant garde DFW area stores opened in 82-83.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/996217952 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v

The San Ramon store opened around early 84 and had the same black photo murals but with a traditional drop ceiling and shopping center architecture.

An update of those photo murals made it into the main store package by around 1986 with the remodel of the Marina store until the grey Marketplace theme phased in from around late 88 to around 1994.

Of course we all know Safeway was trying to get *anything* to work during this time. Some of those elements actually made it into a full production store.

In June 1986, a new store was opened in Marshall, TX to replace two much smaller stores in town. Walmart had already opened in what was supposed to be Marshall's premier shopping area. But the rest of the center never materialized.

The store had full wall murals as decor with an awning over the produce area to set the mood, a bulk foods section, a full deli and bakery, plus service meat and seafood. The store was 54,000 sq. ft., larger than both the stores it replaced. But it was not to last.

April 1987 signaled the closing of the Dallas division and this store was no exception, being sold to Brookshire Grocery Company. Brookshire's #22 was right across the street and would move in immediately. For 8 years.

In 1995, BGC turned the store into a Super 1 Foods, removing all elements of its initial occupant. It remains such to this day.

Fun store for its era, though I think it would have looked kind of instantly dated.

The whole post-modern ceiling/lighting grid thing for some reason makes me think of American Fare, the Bruno's/Kmart venture that was the genesis of what ultimately ended up as Super Kmart.