Waterfront Warehouse District in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
1. Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters Marker
Construction Date: 1929-30, remodeled 2000-01
Architectural Style: Early 20th century utilitarian with Beaux Arts elements
Sirloin steak sold for 20 cents a pound when Safeway Stores established its first corporate headquarters here in 1929, during a time of rapid growth for the company.
Safeway was an early adopter of the innovative self-serve format and the first to have parking lots at its stores, helping it become the largest grocery chain in the West. Headquartered here from 1929 to 1996, the nearby Western Pacific rail line and Port of Oakland allowed Safeway to receive and dispatch inventory to its stores. The first three floors of the building served as a warehouse, with two floors of offices above. In 2001, New Market Lofts converted the building to 46 loft-style condominiums.
A National Register Historic District
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.
Location. 37° 47.708′ N, 122° 16.164′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in the Waterfront Warehouse District.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District (a few steps from this marker); Former Safeway Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterfront Warehouse District (within shouting distance of this marker); W.P. Fuller and Co. Warehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Waterfront Warehouse District (about 300 feet away); Autocar Sales & Service Co. (about 400 feet away); C.L. Greeno Pacific Coast Headquarters (about 400 feet away); Western States Grocery (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
More about this marker. The Waterfront Warehouse District has special covered trash cans on street corners, with historical markers atop the covers.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Previous Safeway Stores marker and Former Safeway Headquarters plaque
Also see . . . Safeway History.
"In 1915, M.B. Skaggs, an ambitious young man in the small Idaho town of American(Submitted on July 12, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)Falls, purchased a tiny grocery store from his father. M.B.'s business strategy, to give his customers value and to expand by keeping a narrow profit margin, proved spectacularly successful. By 1926 he had opened 428 Skaggs stores in 10 states. M.B. almost doubled the size of his business that year when he merged his company with 322 Safeway (formerly Selig) stores and incorporated as Safeway, Inc."Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 20232. Safeway Stores Corporate Headquarters and Marker
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 4, 2023
3. Opposite Side of A Marker/Trash Can
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 3. submitted on July 5, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.
