Produce and Waterfront in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Former Safeway Headquarters

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 13, 2020

1. Former Safeway Headquarters Marker

Inscription. This building served as the corporate headquarters of Safeway Stores, Inc. from 1929 until 1997. The building, affectionately known as "4th & J" by it's occupants, was built in 1929 for Safeway by the Clinton Construction Company and was designed by the architectural firm of Couchot, Rosenwald and Roeth.

The Safeway Organization was founded in 1915 when M. B. Skaggs bought a grocery store from his father in American Falls, Idaho. He started a second store in 1917 and by 1921 Skaggs and his five brothers had expanded the chain to cover all of Idaho and parts of Montana under the name Skaggs United Stores. The company came to California in 1925 with the acquisition of Skaggs Cash Stores, developed by M.B. Skaggs' oldest brother O.P. Skaggs. In 1926 Skaggs United Stores merged with the Sam Seelig chain of Southern California, which prior to the merger had been renamed "Safeway Stores". After the merger, the company was called “Skaggs Safeway", but this was changed shortly thereafter to "Safeway". The company continued expanding through acquisitions in the late 1920's, including the acquisition of the locally important Piggly-Wiggly chain in 1928. The Piggly- Wiggly acquisition added a larger number of stores to Safeway's Bay Area operations and was a major reason for the construction of this building as an office

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and warehouse facility. Prior to the construction of this building, Safeway occupied the former Western States Grocery Company warehouse located next door at 247 4th Street.

Over the following decades, Safeway continued to expand it operations. The company was headed by Quentin Reynolds from 1966 to 1977, and during this period Safeway grew to become the world's largest grocery chain with approximately 2,400 stores in North America, Europe and Australia.

Erected 2001 by Family and Friends of Quentin Reynolds.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 37° 47.704′ N, 122° 16.186′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Produce and Waterfront. It is at the intersection of Fourth Street and Jackson Street, on the left when traveling north on Fourth Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 Fourth Street, Oakland CA 94607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District (within shouting distance of this marker); W.P. Fuller and Co. Warehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterfront Warehouse District

Former Safeway Headquarters and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 13, 2020

2. Former Safeway Headquarters and Marker

The marker is mounted to the corner of the building, although difficult to see here because of the trees and shadows.

(about 300 feet away); Autocar Sales & Service Co. (about 300 feet away); C.L. Greeno Pacific Coast Headquarters (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Waterfront Warehouse District (about 300 feet away); United Grocers Ltd. Warehouse (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

Other markers no longer nearby. Safeway Stores (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); S & W Fine Foods (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); W.P. Fuller & Co. (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Western States (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); United Grocers (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,254 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.