I was in need of sundry items and was in the neighborhood of the Lakewood Target, so in I went. The good things about Target are that it is always clean and fairly well staffed, their stock is refreshed regularly, they have decent prices and a broad selection. The not so good is that hardly anything they sell is made in America.
This morning I’m driving around looking for a cup of coffee because it is that kind of day when I notice that there is an ACE hardware on Sprague. Where did that come from? My husband said that it use to be a lawn mower store and maybe it still is to a point because the secondary sign said Agrishop (see link http://www.agrishopinc.com/) and they seem to have lawnmowers and more. It is a small hardware store and a nice alternative to the megastore. Not that ACE isn’t a big chain. Their website says they have more than 4,600 stores in 50 states and 70 countries! There are 30 ACE locations within 30 miles of this one! Who knew?
AGRISHOP TACOMA
2012 S 12th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405
phone: (253) 833-0870
toll free: (800) 805-0513
And yes, I did take some photos of it! And they are happily living on my camera’s memory chip. But the memory chip and the laptop had words and now they aren’t talking! So I tried rebooting (no), I tried taking the chip in and out a dozen times (no), I found one of those cords that connects the camera & the computer (no), I tried all the same things on my husband’s computer (no, no, no), I considered throwing the computer in the bay (maybe). I gave up and used an image off the internet and will try at work tomorrow using their computer (yes).
In the meantime, here is a photo I took with my phone!
1112 S. M St.
Tacoma, WA 98405
Store Phone: 253-627-8840
Here is a review of the store after the remodel.
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/restaurants/grocery-stories/2010/06/tacoma-hilltop-safeway-remodel/
Today’s new place is the Safeway in the Highland Hill Center, 6201 6th Ave, Tacoma, (253) 564-7029
Store Phone: 253-564-7029
Store Hours: Open 24 Hours
Their website provides the following store details: Ad Region (whatever that means!), Bakery, Deli, Floral, Liquor, Meat, Pharmacy, Produce, Seafood, Starbucks, Video, Fuelstation, DryClean, Sushi Bar, Olive Bar, Digital Photo, DVDPlay Kiosk, Coinmaster, Jamba Juice, Adult Immunizations, Travel Immunizations, 24 hr PayPump, Wi-fi, , Home Grocery Delivery
So, pretty much is a somewhat larger than normal Safeway. The store was clean, had everything on my list and the check out guy was pleasant.
Rental information on the Highland Hills Shopping Center can be found here http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=16670837
Although we are getting more sunlight each day, it is still too dark for me. We went to Lowe’s for a new bedside lamp and wall lamp for the living room. We are trying the natural light bulbs and so far they seem nice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full-spectrum_light
While we were there, we picked up a second hummingbird feeder and some bird food. With the cold weather, our feathered friends have seemed extra interested in the feeders.
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
Today was all about the practical. I needed to order new eyeglasses before my benefit went away. I went to a new place for me, Pearl Eyecare Center near the Tacoma Mall. My husband has been going there for years and said they would treat me right. He was right! They spent the time I needed and actually understood how the insurance worked. I ordered two pair. The top pair have a little design on the frames and will be sunglasses. The bottom will be my day to day pair, when I’m not wearing contacts.
2505 S 38th St # A108
Tacoma, WA 98409-7372
(253) 472-1188
I would donate my older pair to charity, but my dog ate them! Rotten dog.
Not every new place of the day can be culturally, historically and/or architecturally interesting. Sometimes it is just practical. And so soon before the holidays, nothing says practical like a battery store.
4027 Tacoma Mall Blvd (Rainier Place Shopping Center)
STE M, Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 476-2666
Today I made a quick stop at World Market to pick up some Christmas cards. The place was packed! But, still in all, I got through the line in good time and the cashier was cheerful.
http://www.worldmarket.com/home/
The store is all geared up for Thanksgiving and here is their Thanksgiving link.
http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Thanksgiving#iframetop
This is an interesting Thanksgiving image from Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/controltheweb/66672874/in/photostream/
The link for the labels is here http://businessprinting.van.fedex.com/address-labels.aspx?xnav=pricingdetails&rd=2
Of course they have a bunch of stuff you can make, cards, brochures, invitations, banners, etc. The return address label I like is below with the little red birds in the snowy tree. 
