Albertsons Drops 'Market Street Idaho' Name From New Boise Store

Albertsons Cos. is nearing completion of its new foodie-focused concept store in Boise, Idaho, with all the bells and whistles as originally promised, except for one—its name.

The retailer is bagging the recently announced Market Street Idaho banner at its new store on Broadway Avenue, slated to open late June in replacement of a nearly 60-year-old Albertsons store that was located across the street. Instead, the new store will be branded under the traditional Albertsons banner in honor of the retailer’s longtime history in the Boise State University community.

“The [original] store has been there since 1959,” says John Colgrove, president of Boise-based Albertsons’ Intermountain Division. “When you think about the likely thousands of employees that have worked there over the 60 years, and the millions of transactions that have taken place—one-on-one personal transactions with customers—and Albertsons Stadium just down the street, we thought we should open that as an Albertsons banner store.”

Demolition of the original Broadway Avenue Albertsons store began last week.

Despite its traditional name, the replacement store promises to be anything but traditional. With a mission to deliver creative culinary in-store experiences in a social environment—and a focus on local, fresh, natural, organic and specialty items—the new Broadway Avenue store will feature in-store culinary events and classes, a restaurant-style food court, a beer and wine bar, and a concierge.

Related:Albertsons to Launch Foodie-Focused Market Street Idaho Banner

“We’re looking at this as our next-generation store. It’s our future,” says Colgrove.

Albertsons’ plans for a Market Street Idaho location on Eagle Road and Fairview Avenue in Boise later this year remain unchanged, according to Colgrove. The store is slated to open in the fall.

Market Street Idaho is part of the Albertsons Cos. family of stores, which operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated, based in New York City.