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The first Des Moines Safeway opened in 1958 and operated until September 1983 when a new store was built accross the street. The orginal store was expanded in the 1970's which included the classic white flagstone on the front corners with Red S's. The store is now a Bartells and a clerk there told me they are expecting a remodel and the flagstone may be removed. The new Safeway built accross the street was constructed with simple cement slab wall contruction as money was not as plentiful back then and the construction time was reduced. This architecture was common between the early to mid 80's. The store received a handsome Lifestyle rennovation and expansion in 2006 which included the addition of a fuel station.

It seems to me that this was one of the first Safeway Superstores built after the "Circle S" was retired and the "Ribbon S" logo was brought in. I remember that the White Center Safeway, now the DSHS office, was one of the last superstores built with the "Circle S" logo. Plus it had a facade that was sloped and had ceramic tiles. When the Des Moines superstore land was bought, they put up a "coming soon" sign showing that a Safeway Superstore was going to be on the site and they used the "Circle S" on the sign. I believe it was January 1982 that the "Ribbon S" was introduced.

However, I should mention that the current exterior of the Des Moines was around before it received the "Lifestyle" makover. When the makover happened, the "Ribbon S" was retired and the "Lifestyle" logo was introduced.

thanks Marshd, you are so right, the 1983 Des Moines store received its remodel first, then a short time later received the Lifestyle refresh, it was a short time between the two. Other stores off the top of my head that had the less expenseive 80's cement slab construction were Renton Fairwood store (closed, new larger store replaced it), Surprise Lake Milton, the Maple Valley store (also replaced by a bigger store), Chewelah and Hillyard (also since replaced).

Longview's 15th Ave. store used that cement slab construction also, and looked very similar in appearance to the older mid-80s Des Moines pictures. It has since received a Lifestyle remodel and will soon receive a gas station.