Atkinsons’ set to purchase Valley
Market
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
Atkinsons’ Market, the Wood River
Valley-based grocery-store company, has entered a deal to buy Valley Market in
Bellevue.
Chip Atkinson, president of Atkinsons’,
said company officials plan to close the deal by the end of the week, and will
take over the business immediately.
Atkinson did not disclose the terms of the
purchase agreement but noted that the deal includes the Valley Market business,
its approximately 26,000-square-foot store and the approximately four-acre
parcel along Highway 75 on which the business is located.
"We’re really excited by this," he said.
"We hope the public will be excited as well."
Atkinson said the new owners intend to
maintain the store’s management and staff, and will not immediately implement
any major changes to the store.
"We’re not going to do the ‘go in, close
it, remodel and reopen,’" he said.
Owned by Vern Howard of Friday Harbor,
Wash., Valley Market is Bellevue’s largest grocery store.
Speculation has abounded in recent months
that the property was for sale, possibly to the Zatica family of Homedale,
owners of the Paul’s supermarket chain. Paul’s closed the doors of its downtown
Hailey store last month after the building was sold to a local investment group
for redevelopment as a shopping center.
The new store in Bellevue will give
Atkinsons’ a profound presence in the Wood River Valley’s three primary
commercial centers. The company already operates stores in Ketchum and Hailey.
Atkinson said his company was not actively
seeking to buy Valley Market, but pursued the deal after hearing that it was for
sale.
Atkinson noted that the "Valley Market"
name will be an "integral part" of the market’s new name.
However, he said, the new owners will
conduct an approximately three-month "assessment period" to get public input
from customers before making any substantial changes. "We plan on making the
transition as smooth as possible," he said. "We are fortunate to have the
support of a very experienced staff, many of whom have been with us for 15
years.
"We look forward to combining our
expertise with that of the dedicated employees of Valley Market. Having the
three stores will also gain us the economies of scale."
Atkinson stressed that the new store will
not be remodeled directly after either of the existing stores but will be
tailored to the residents of Bellevue and southern Blaine County.
"The Ketchum store really reflects
Ketchum. Hailey really reflects Hailey," he said. "What we want is something
that reflects Bellevue."
Company officials last Thursday announced
that planned changes for the new market will include upgrades to equipment and
lighting.
In addition, Atkinsons’ will possibly
establish a full-service meat department and full-service deli, Atkinson said.
Many product brands carried by Valley
Market—such as "Western Family"—will continue to be offered by the new
ownership, company officials said. First Bank of Idaho, a tenant in the Valley
Market building, will remain as a long term tenant, they noted.
Atkinson said his company—which was
started in 1956—foresees no specific problems in expanding its operations. "This
isn’t growth for growth’s sake," he said. "We want to enhance our service to our
customers … We think we do a decent job and want to continue."