Super Saver Foods in White Center is in the process of remodeling the former Albertsons store at 10616 16th Ave s.w. and will roll out their grand opening "over a three week period" likely in May or early June according to General Manager for Saar's Marketplace John Hames. "We do giveaways, we give groceries away. It will be an event and there will be something happening every weekend. We're excited to be in White Center."

Hames spoke to the West Seattle Herald/White Center News on Monday, Mar. 26 and talked about what kind of company Super Saver Foods is and the differences people can expect when the visit.

"Super Saver Foods is a concept that we've been working on, "said Hames, " and White Center really is the best place for us to open it. As a company we really rely more on "deal" merchandise and in our aisles you'll see a lot more specials and values than you would in a normal grocery store. The Albertsons store was a conventional grocery store. We're a little less conventional."

They are interviewing for employees right now and Hames pointed out that the "grocery business is a people business," adding, "in the interviews we're doing right now what we talk about is, 'Can you smile? Can you greet people? Can you talk to them? Can you take care of their needs', that's what we all have to do."

They have a full selection of meats and and Hames was quick to mention, "We do not sell what's being called 'Pink Slime', a meat product that has gotten a lot of media attention lately. We are 100% free of that product."

They have a large produce department and Hames said, "We buy the produce from the same people other stores do, we just sell it for less. If you look at our produce pricing, we beat everybody around."

The area that was the bakery will become more floor space for merchandise, Hames said as will an area up in the northwest corner of the store which will be for an expanded paper goods, bread and candie section. These areas are taped off with plastic for now and Hames expects that the remodeling process will take, "about six weeks" which puts them in mid-May for completion.

The 27,000 square foot store joins 9 others in the chain but is the first Super Saver Foods. The stores are located in Washington State, with one in Burien and others in Tacoma, Lakewood, Oak Harbor, Port Orchard, Renton, and in Seattle in Rainier Beach.

The owner, Greg Saar, "is active in the store and makes sure that we meet his expectations."

To get deals, the company buys direct from major companies and "where we can we take the middle man out."

The store will employ 25 to 30 people full time plus a few part time jobs. They've brought in department heads from other stores to get the White Center store operating properly but will slowly train others. "We'd like to get people from our community right here," said Hames," which helps the economy here, plus they know people. It's a very positive thing."

The store will have an expanded asian products section. "We'll probably have 200 feet of asian products," Hames said. They also plan on expanding the range and number of Hispanic products offered.

"We tend to merchandize to the community around us,"Hames explained, "We have some stores that are aimed at the eastern European and Russian population in Tacoma."

Hames is happy to be open in White Center. "The people here are so friendly. We've been well received and a couple of the comments we've heard at the check stand a lot are about how much cheaper our prices are. We have told our customers that we will learn their loyalty. We will have an ad every week and we'll be very competitive."

"What we want people to note is our friendliness, our value, and that it's a great place to shop."

Original post 3-26-12
As the West Seattle Herald/White Center News was the first to tell you, The White Center Albertsons grocery closed as scheduled March 21 and now open is the Saar's Super Saver Foods store. Gone are the in-store bakery and the adjacent Pharmacy and plastic is up as remodeling gets underway.

Super Saver Foods has a large number of highly discounted products, and close-out items are available at substantially lower prices than their original sale price.

Still there is the deli area at the back of the store offering fried chicken, and deli specialties, a major meat section, and an extensive produce section.

As before, many products are on the shelves for the wide variety of ethnic groups that live in the White Center area. Signs advertise Rock Bottom Prices throughout the store.