TOP Food opens new store

SHORELINE – Top notch.

That is one of the few phrases Dale Henley, the CEO of TOP Food &Drug, did not use when describing the new Shoreline store that opened Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Henley did use plenty of other phrases to express his excitement regarding the opening of the 30th store owned by Haggen Inc.

Henley, who has worked for Haggen since 1984 and has been the CEO since 1996, said he has planned for the opening of the Shoreline store since 1991. Several years were spent acquiring the property, and the actual building of the facility took about seven months.

The response by customers to the store opening on Wednesday morning was overwhelming.

Just to get in for the 8 a.m. opening, thousands of people stood in a line that snaked around the side of the store and out to NE 175th Street. The first 300 customers received Top Food bags that contained all the ingredients for a spaghetti dinner. After those quickly ran out, Top Food representatives handed out coupons for items such as a free dozen eggs.

“I’ve been waiting years for this store to open,” said one woman in the line.

The crush of cars trying to get into the parking lot clogged traffic for blocks around, even with the new traffic light at the main entrance at 175th and Midvale Ave. N. that the city had required for store. Early in the morning, westbound traffic backed up from Aurora Avenue N. all the way to east of I-5.

Henley feels the new store will meet the needs of local shoppers, especially with the recent closure of a QFC store just ten blocks north at Aurora and NE 185th Street.

“We tried creating a place where people felt comfortable coming to,” Henley said.

Henley said the store offers many unique features intended to provide a high level of comfort, which he hopes shoppers can feel even before entering the store.

Looking out at the parking lot, Henley points out that the store has a substantial amount of landscaping that includes several walkways, as well as an area for a garden shop in the spring. All of these factors are intended to welcome the customers, Henley said.

Once inside the store, there is a FTD Floral Shop, a coffee retailer, Terravida Coffee and a branch of Shoreline Bank. A pharmacy will also be open seven days a week.

A Market Street Cafe is located inside the store, which Henley described as a place where people could select meals to go, such as Orient Express, sandwiches and salads. There is also a sushi bar where sushi is made fresh daily. Henley said TOP foods staff develop all of their own recipes and do not buy kits or salads from other stores.

A gathering place is located in the corner of the store, with tables and chairs and a fireplace available to customers. This is important, Henley said, because senior citizens often gather in the morning for breakfast and lunch.

The produce department receives daily shipments, and Henley said that quality is the number one factor when selecting produce. If the grocers must choose between cheap produce that is poor quality, and that which is more expensive but good quality, he said they will go with the better quality.

The store carries Angus beef, Henley said, which he believes is better tasting than what many stores offer. Out of four classifications of beef, Henley said they offer what is called choice beef, which is the second highest classification.

A beverage area features beer and wine, with a special selection of micro brews, which Henley said is particularly popular in the Northwest. In addition to an expansive selection of wines, Henley said the wine department features a wine specialist to aid customers.

A natural foods department offers such items as cereals, snacks, grain and rice. According to Henley, the store carries most of the major items found in health food stores.

Haggen Inc. operates two supermarket divisions – Haggen Food &Pharmacy and TOP Food &Drug stores – and is the seventh largest private corporation and the largest independent grocer in Washington.