Haggen brand to remain on 15 legacy stores; Albertsons will operate 14 others

Its expansion bubble burst by bankruptcy, Bellingham-based Haggen is about to become a small Western Washington grocer once again.

Haggen and Albertsons announced Monday that of 29 remaining Haggen stores, 14 will make the final cut and maintain the brand. Fourteen more will be converted to the Albertsons brand, while an Oak Harbor store, which had been converted from the Safeway brand, will maintain the Haggen name.

The 15 Haggen stores will operate under a separate business unit owned by Albertsons. The plan will be submitted for consideration by the bankruptcy court March 29.

Two South Sound stores — at 1406 Lake Tapps Parkway E. in Auburn and at 1313 Cooper Point Road SW in Olympia — will maintain the Haggen brand. Two others — at 8611 Steilacoom Blvd. SW in Lakewood and 3520 Pacific Ave. SE in Olympia — will transition to the Albertsons brand.

The conversion of the Haggen stores to the Albertsons brand will be done “over time,” according to a news release Monday.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Haggen brand to remain on 15 legacy stores; Albertsons will operate 14 others."