My relationship with Stadium Thriftway began in the mid-’90s when I moved into the Dorothy Apartments a few blocks away. There is something very satisfying about walking somewhere every day to shop for your groceries. I also appreciate the quaint atmosphere this store exudes. It's small but not too small, and could the employees BE any friendlier? Stadium Thriftway truly is the epitome of a neighborhood market.

I no longer live in the Stadium District, but my relationship with this Thriftway hasn’t changed much. I’m still in the store at least two days a week as one of their suppliers and there are a few new faces working behind the scenes. Everything is pretty much the same as it always has been. However, that is all about to change. …

For years, owner Mike Hargreaves has wanted to expand the store in square footage and in services. This past October after months and months of planning and jumping through every imaginable hurdle possible, Hargreaves got the final OK to break ground.

The expansion is occurring in phases in order for the store to continue business as usual with no interruptions. The first phase tickles my heart to no end — 6,000 new square feet to accommodate the newly expanded meat, frozen food departments and my personal favorite, the wine/beer section. Oh, how my heart dances! Completion of this phase is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Next demolition of aisle one and the old meat department will make room for a shiny new deli. Again I am giddy as a schoolgirl knowing they will make room for more domestic and imported cheese, something I have always lobbied for. They also plan to add a made to order pasta, burrito and salad bar. At this point I am fairly convinced I will never need to leave the store. Ever.

The coffee shop plans move towards the south side of the building with some desperately needed customer seating. Penny in the floral shop will get more room for her lovely flowers and get this — they are adding a new department dedicated to just seafood!

I hear that all these wonderful additions will require a few more employees, so if you need a job keep your eyes and ears open after the holidays. Also, it should be interesting how any additional parking will be addressed. It’s pretty tight now, so I imagine it will be somewhat of a challenge.

Shopping cart theft has always been an issue at Stadium Thriftway, so fancy new shopping carts are already in use. They are equipped with censoring devices that send a signal to one of the wheels that locks it down if someone leaves the parking lot with it. What will they think of next?

According to Hargreaves, all the expansion and upgrades should be completed by the end of March. This seems fairly aggressive to me, for we all know projects of this caliber tend to take longer than expected. But I wish them well and hope for a timely completion, because selfishly I can’t wait to check out that burrito bar! I’ll keep you posted.

[Stadium Thriftway, 618 N. 1st St., Tacoma, 253.627.8275]