Harbor Greens at 2620 Bridgeport Way W. University Place WA 98466 opened on March 1, 2013. Really, its delightful store full of fresh, lovely produce and a great deli. There is also a large wine/beer selection, interesting candy, flowers/gardening supplies and sundry items. Oh, and the people working there were really nice! The original location is in Gig Harbor. Their Facebook page is here and their website is here.
Mattress Ranch at 8916 Lakewood Drive SW in Lakewood has a barnyard theme (in case you didn’t notice!). I hadn’t realized it was part of a chain with four locations in Alaska and six in Washington State. I have to say that I’m impressed that all of their mattresses are completely American made.
The Lucky 3 Food Store at 3601 South 12th Street, Tacoma is one of hundreds of convenience stores in Pierce Co.Just driving from Point A to Point B, on South 12th Street I passed four of them, though one was permanently closed. While I tend to think of 7-11 when I think of convenience stores, the truth is that most of them are mom and pop stores.
When Santa needs a break I’m sure he heads to the Aloha Oasis Hawaiian Store at 3011 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma. I stopped into after being stuck in the house for two days with a rotten cold. The store isn’t huge, but it is filled to the brim with all things Hawaiian including Hawaiian shirts, Christmas tree ornaments, candy, lotions, beach towels, bags, leis and trinkets. I left with chocolate covered macadamia nuts, dear husband’s favorite. The business has been going for nine years which is a great success in today’s economy!
Dear husband told me on Wednesday that folks were starting to line up at Best Buy at 2214 S 48th St, Tacoma, WA 98409. So today I took a breather from Thanksgiving preparations to drive past and check it out. There were seven tents, one truck with a generator and about 25 people. It was kind of difficult to tell since some of them were in their tents. I was expecting a party atmosphere, but those in line were pretty much just sitting or playing on their cell phones. I have to say that afterwards I was glad to go home and have a nice meal with the family. And I hope the people in line get the treasures that they are seeking.
And here is a bonus photo that more reflects the holiday to me. 
Albertson’s at 2401 North Pearl Street in Tacoma is one of two Albertson’s within Tacoma’s city limits and one of 463 Albertsons in the US (California, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). The chain was founded in 1939 in Boise, Idaho.
Their website http://www.albertsons.com/ has some good seasonal recipes.
The Cowboy Market Place 4170 E. Hwy. 377 Granbury, TX 76049 is really fun. They have all kinds of unusual Western theme merchandise including bronze sculptures, saddles, tact and (my favorite and I should had taken a photo!) a road kill scented candle. Their website is here http://www.cowboy-marketplace.com
Grassi’s Flowers & Gifts at 1702 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, is in cool, triangular building that was built in 1892 as the Wynkoop Drug Co. / Pagni & Lenti Grocery. The property has also been the Little Country Grocery Store. It was renovated to its beautiful condition by Alice Mack, but ended up being owned by a bank through foreclosure. Eventually it was purchased by the University of Washington and leased to Grassi’s.
http://www.grassisflorist.com/
Sally Beauty Supply, located at 3842 University Place in Green Firs Shopping in University Place, has a great deal of beauty product. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Denton Texas (where I once went to college). There are over 4,000 stores.
http://www.sallybeauty.com/
I needed milk today and just didn’t have the energy for a stop at a grocery store. There before me appeared a relative new 7 Eleven at the corner of South 56th Street and Yakima. It was a really nice, well stocked, well light and pleasant employees. Beside the needed milk I picked up a good looking sandwich for lunch tomorrow for only $3.99.
