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.
Former Safeway Headquarters. . This building served as the corporate headquarters of Safeway Stores, Inc. from 1929 until 1997. The building, affectionately known as "4th and 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 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.
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. Marker 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.
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 471 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
