WinCo will open Spokane store

A bag-it-yourself grocery chain with an emphasis on a big selection at low prices is moving into the Spokane marketplace.

WinCo Foods Inc., which operates 57 stores in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California and Oregon, plans to build a 94,000-square foot warehouse-style grocery store in north Spokane, on Nevada Street, and Holland Avenue, east of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Colton Street.

The employee-owned company recently purchased 18 acres for an undisclosed price and the store should be completed by 2008 or early 2009, said Morgan Randis, vice president of development for the Boise, Idaho-based company.

Stores typically employ 200 to 220 people, he said, and WinCo has about 11,000 employees companywide.

WinCo is new to the crowded Spokane grocery store market and focuses on the bargain hunter niche. The store doesn’t fit into a conventional grocery store or club warehouse store model, Randis said, but has elements of both that appeal to people of varying income levels. Stores don’t require a membership fee and are stocked with meats, produce, baked goods, bulk and deli foods, health and beauty items and also have pizza shops.

“We should do well in Spokane because it is a great town that (fits) our demographics and customers,” Randis said.

The 41-year-old chain had $2.85 billion in sales for 2005, according to Forbes, which provides company research.

WinCo recently submitted preliminary plans to the city of Spokane and is completing the comment period required by state laws, a city representative said. The land is currently zoned for commercial use and Randis expects the company to apply for a building permit in the next several months.

Moving into Spokane fits the grocer’s emphasis on Northwest operations, he said, plus WinCo already has stores in other parts of Washington, including the Tri-Cities. WinCo also has a store in Moscow, Idaho.

“It just makes sense to be in Spokane,” Randis said.