March 06--Tony Alan Jewelry wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is First Thursday in downtown Portland. And, as part of the fun, the store will hold a S. Kashi & Sons trunk show. The store, located at 604 N.W. 12th Avenue, will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and the sale will continue through Sunday.
New Seasons Market announced that it celebrated its 13th birthday by handing out cash to 34 local nonprofits that aim to improve access to locally grown and raised food.
The Portland-based grocer gave out grants ranging from $450 to $5,000, 27 of which went to local farmer's market groups. The money will allow the groups to make a variety of moves, including matching Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars, providing vouchers to families in need and subsidizing vendor fees so more minority farmers will have access.
Grant winners included the Cully Community Market, Lloyd Farmers Market and St. Johns Farmer's Market and the Oregon City Farmers Market.
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Wal-Mart Stores Inc., plans to open 115 smaller format stores -- Neighborhood Market and Express -- this fiscal year.
The world's largest retailer, which opened a handful of Neighborhood Markets last year for a total of six in the state, said those stores are taking market share away from competitors including dollar stores, supermarkets and pharmacies.
"You'll see us increasingly moving into smaller formats," said Simon, head of Wal-Mart's U.S. division, in a quote from the Wall Street Journal. "They compete really well against multiple channels."
This fiscal year's expansion plan is the retailer's largest yet for its small-format concept, which are considered 60,000 feet or less. The smaller storeswill make up about 40 percent of stores the retailer opens this fiscal year, Simon said. However, the chain's iconic superstores still make up about 90 percent of its overall locations.
Leaders of Fred Meyer, a Portland-based subsidiary of The Kroger Co., have said that they, too, plan on unveiling smaller stores that will fit better in neighborhoods.
-- Laura Gunderson
