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Progress
Sunday, March 24, 2002
THE BUSINESSES: RUTH LONGORIA THE OLYMPIAN
TUMWATER -- Shoppers here have increasing options with the new Fred Meyer store and the growing retail complex near Trosper Road.
But loyal customers allow long-time businesses, such as Mega Foods, to hold their own.
However, that's not to say there weren't some tense moments after new kids -- Albertsons, Costco and Fred Meyer -- moved in down the block.
"When you're 27 years old, it's kind of difficult to compete with the new-car smell of a brand new Fred Meyer," said Alan Nelson, chief operating officer of Fullers Market Basket Inc.
Five years ago, the Tumwater Mega Foods was purchased by Fullers owner Rob Fuller of Chehalis, who also owns three Fullers stores in Centralia and Chehalis and the Hawks Prairie Mega Foods.
"Costco was probably a plus and, although Albertson's probably had an impact, being another grocery store, the previous owner reported only about a 11/2 percent drop in business," Nelson said.
Mega Foods owners were concerned when they heard Fred Meyer was moving in, he said. Fred Meyer has groceries, as well as clothing, hardware, electronics, pharmacy and garden supplies.
"But it had far less impact than we'd expected," he said. "Our team and the loyalty of our customers has been great."
Mega Foods has made conscious efforts to retain its customers, Nelson said.
"We've literally lowered every price in the store, and we've done a lot of promotionals," he said.
"We've made sure we're giving the customers something to be loyal to."
'One big, happy family'
The employees are one reason shoppers keep coming back to Mega Foods, he said.
Tumwater Mega Foods employs more than 100 people, most of them local residents, Nelson said.
Carol Riordan, 53, of Littlerock began working for the store 31 years ago, before the store moved to Trosper Road. Prior to that, the store began as the old Sea Mart store in downtown Olympia near the Farmers Market, she said.
"Mega Foods is like one big happy family," Riordan said. "Most of the employees in the front of the store have worked here for years and years."
Many Mega Foods customers have shopped at the store all of their lives.
"We know their names and their kids' names. Now, they come in bringing their children and grandchildren," she said.
Customers often mention their childhood memories of riding on the old flatbed carts that used to be a part of the store, Riordan said.
"And then there's the people that move away and come back several years later," she said. "They come up to us and say, 'You're still here! It's so nice to come home and see the same faces,' " she said.
But you don't have to have a history there to be a loyal shopper.
"Sometimes we see new faces," Riordan said. "It makes me feel good when someone says they have never come here before, but they really like the store."
Low prices and cheerful employees are two reasons 30-year-old Tumwater resident Melissa Polito shops at Mega Foods.
On a recent Friday morning, her children, Krista, 4, and Elias, 2, pushed a child-size cart beside their mother as Polito attempted to shop, talk, and entertain 9-month old son Carmine.
"I come in here about twice a week, after I drop my 8-year-old off at school," Polito said.
"And my husband does the major shopping here once a month."
Polito said she wouldn't dream of changing stores.
"It kind of ticked me off that all these big stores moved in, because I thought they'd be pushing Mega Foods out. But that doesn't seem to be happening and I'm glad," she said. "Don't get me wrong: I love Fred Meyer, but I shop for groceries here."
Ruth Longoria covers Tumwater for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5435 or rlongori@olympia.gannett.com.
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