Bellingham-based grocery chain Haggen announced this week that it has started the process of converting former Albertsons and Safeway stores to the Haggen brand.
Shoppers took to the KIRO 7 Facebook page to complain that a low-priced store will be replaced by a high-priced store. Graham Johnson looks into how your shopping experience may change, and if it will mean higher prices for KIRO 7 Eyewitness News starting at 5 p.m.
The first conversion will start at a former Albertsons in Monroe on Thursday after midnight.
KIRO 7 was at the Monroe location, which closed at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The store will be closed until Saturday morning for re-branding, although the pharmacy will remain open.
Officials with the company said that 146 stores in five states would be converted.
After the transition of the Monroe store, 18 stores will be switched during February and March, and the final seven Washington stores are scheduled to change over in June.
Click here for the tentative schedule of the Washington stores.
We promised to bring you this story from Graham Johnson on Thursday. Due to breaking news, it was postponed but will be part of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News starting at 5 p.m. Friday.
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