Very few experiences make me appreciate where I live. I've traveled a bit, but not much around this country. I have discovered that Tacomans are not that different from anyone else, until last week when I traveled to the East Coast for my nephew's college graduation.

I couldn't find a decent grocery store to save my life.

It was so weird. We were staying in a sleepy suburb of Annapolis, Maryland and all I wanted to do was to find something decent to bring home and eat. Don't EVEN get me started on the restaurants. That is a whole other column.

I drove in from Washington, D.C., which has the worst highway system I have ever seen. Again another rant for another day. On that crappy highway system I saw a Safeway truck, so I know there was one out there. Somewhere.

Clearly, we are spoiled. You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Fred Meyer, Top Foods, Albertsons, Safeway or QFC. You name it - we have it. From some strange reason, everything is "hidden" around there. We drove for miles without seeing a major shopping area, which in hindsight is kind of cool. But that's not my point.

How lucky we are. The only store I could find on the other coast was called Super Fresh - and it was super boring. My long-winded point here is that Safeway truck gave me hope, even though I never found an actual Safeway. Driving around on that crappy highway system I remembered that the Safeway in the Proctor District was finally done with their renovations. I couldn't wait to check it out.

Back home

There are no shockers at the bright, shiny and spiffed-up Safeway in the Proctor District, but they desperately needed a facelift and they got one. What I really like about the renovations was immediate - the lighting. LOVE the lighting. It's bright enough for you to see what you are doing, but it is never TOO bright to blind you.  It makes you want to stay longer and shop. Ah ha! Bastards ...

In the center of the store is a Starbucks, which I do believe some think is the center of the universe. Flanked to the left is the fancy new floral department where I tried to smell some odorless peonies. Hmpf. To the right, their fancy new deli and bakery area.

You'll also find all your deli needs and then some, like sushi, which I'm not a fan of cold, but whatcha ya gonna do.

When you hit the bakery, I highly recommend the quinoa bread. Very hearty, tasty and good for you. Love the wood stove they now use to bake the bread. Next door to the bakery is the packed cheese case, but it lacks some softer styles like triple crèmes and other stinky French delicacies. Bummer.

The wine department looks good, but the beer case has suffered a loss. Apparently, there was a plan for additional cooler space and somehow it was not accommodated for in the final renovation. A new cooler has been ordered so they will be able to add more variety soon. Hurray!

The meat and seafood department is gorgeous and well displayed.

The produce department is delightful and strangely very roomy. I don't know if they plan to add more produce, or if they just wanted the department to be easy to get around. I hope it stays this way. Love it.

Video rentals? Still? Ever heard of Netflix? Apparently this Safeway has a small but strong following that still likes to pick up their videos and bring them back. Whatever. I wonder how long they will continue with that? And what a great space for something new and interesting when they stop?

I think the new and improved Proctor Safeway will give Metropolitan Market next door a little more competition now, but most likely they will continue to pull the same demographics they did before. I, for one, will shop both, like I always have. I am just thankful we have the availability and the convenience of both. Unlike some. ...

Safeway

2411 N. Proctor St., Tacoma
253.752.5570