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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Last area Tidyman’s stores sold

Tidyman’s has sold its three remaining stores in the area to Bonner Foods, Inc., an independent grocer that operates Trading Company stores in Cheney and Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

The purchase enables about 225 people who currently work for Tidyman’s to keep their jobs and seniority.

“Everybody has been offered the opportunity on a blanket basis to continue their employment with our company,” said Paul Matejovsky, who owns Bonner Foods Inc. with his business partner Gary Morgan.

The employees will also retain comparable wage and benefit packages, Matejovsky said.

He declined to comment on the purchase price for the three stores, located in Spokane, off U.S. Highway 195; in Spokane Valley at Sprague Avenue and McDonald Road; and on Seltice Way in Post Falls.

The stores will open under the new ownership in mid-July and operate under the banner of Trading Co Stores, Food & Drug. Matejovsky describes Bonner Foods, Inc. as a URM affiliate that focuses on value pricing and quality.

Tidyman’s LLC recently announced that it was selling off its remaining stores and going out of business after nearly four decades in the Spokane grocery market.

Mike Davis, CEO of Tidyman’s, said the employees were pleased to learn of the Bonner Foods purchase and are excited about the new owners’ plans.

“I think it was comforting for everyone to know there really won’t be any changes to their job responsibilities and compensation plans,” Davis said.

Tidyman’s received a fair price for the locations and their inventories, Davis said, although he couldn’t measure the impact of the sale in bolstering the employees’ ownership shares. Tidyman’s is part-owned by an Employee Stock Ownership Program.

Negotiations are still under way for Tidyman’s last three stores, in Billings, Great Falls and Kalispell, Mont.

The Spokane locations were attractive from a buyer’s perspective because they serve growing communities, Matejovsky said. Additionally, they were in good condition and had employees with expertise that was apparent when he and Morgan went through the various produce, meat and other departments, he explained.

“The staffing at these stores is probably the most important piece of the puzzle,” he said.

The transitions should be smooth for the company, because pricing and advertising is already in place for the other Washington and Idaho stores, Matejovsky said.

Both partners currently live in Bonners Ferry, but Gary Morgan will relocate to the Spokane-Post Falls area. Also, the company has hired Mike Gilden as an operations manager to help oversee the five stores.

“There are so many pieces right now to put into place,” Matejovsky said. “The most important thing right now is to get those employees signed up and set up with payroll.”