I’ve had a strange attachment to the grocery store Safeway ever since I moved to Canada. I think it’s because my home grocery store of choice was part of the Safeway chain, but it went under the name of Dominick’s. Dominick’s was a 2 minute drive from my house and, frankly, my happy place.
That grocery store gave me so much comfort. When my husband was visiting my hometown I took him inside and he said, “Oh it’s a Safeway” to which I replied, “Um no it’s Dominick’s.” But he was right, I just didn’t know it.
When I moved to Victoria, I found a Safeway close by and when I walked in, I almost cried. It was almost an exact replica of Dominick’s except for the fact that it was smaller and more Canadian. But still, it gave me a great feeling of comfort and familiarity. Any time I felt homesick, I could just enter those sliding glass doors and pretend I was in Dominick’s.
Recently the Safeway chain was taken over by a different company. When my mom told me that the Dominick’s by our house was closing down I had to have a moment of silence. That place had been such a staple in my youth. And then the harsh reality hit me–the Safeway in Victoria would soon close down as well. And it did.
My security blanket is gone. But it’s okay because I don’t need it anymore. I will survive without it because now my little corner of Canada is familiar to me. The whole town is my comfort. However, there will always be a place in my heart for Safeway.
Now I can totally relate to that saying, “If you love something, let it go.”
Lily In Canada 
We had Safeway supermarkets over here as well but I don’t think they had anything to do your ones.
It’s nice having a stabiliser wherever you go in the world. Kind of like going to, say, Egypt and seeing that they sell Mars Bars there.
Makes you feel safe.
I was in England when the Woolworth’s left and I felt some heartache for the people who were attached to them. However, Canterbury’s was replaced with Poundland and I think everyone forgot about Woolworth’s immediately after that. What were your Safeways like?
Haha so true about Mars Bars in Egypt. It just makes the world feel like a smaller, more manageable place.
Break-ups are hard, Lily.
You know what you need? A distraction.
Here’s a thought: write a guest post for a blogger you respect and admire, perhaps a fellow Canadian from Niagara?
Just a thought.
Haha that sounds like fun! I get really nervous guest posting though! I need some direction, like a prompt or something. I lack a lot of creativity! But yes, I would be honored!
How about any funny hotel stories?
Or your favorite Canadian cultural phenomenons?
Or the best thing about blogging?
Oh I can work with those! When would you like it by?
When I moved to Seattle, and was homesick, that was what brought me comfort too. Not so much Safeway, but the stores I was familiar with.
Seattle is pretty rad though. But yeah I’m glad it’s not just me. Finding the familiar is always a good feeling. Where did you move from?
Utah. Near all my family. My wife was from here so she had family near by. It was kind of lonely at first.
Ahh I went to Utah State for a year and a half. I know Utah quite well. Different from Seattle for sure!
I went on a mission there and spent about 4 months in Logan. I had an unfortunate incident where 3 other missionaries and me actually got our car stuck in the mountains and I had to walk all night to find help. I also spent a summer there. It was a little small for my liking but it was a pretty fun summer.
Yeah super small. I think that’s why I left. I mean, I like Utah but it’s just too Mormon. I like being the only Mormon I know in my group of friends haha. I’m probably the only one who feels that way.
You’re probably not the only one that feels that way. I grew up in South Dakota and I was one of just a few that were Mormon in my whole high school and two were my siblings. I liked the uniqueness of being one of only a few.
Here’s a bit of Canada grocery trivia. There used to be a chain called Dominion (how Canadian, eh?). Their slogan for a while was a follows: “It’s Mainly Because of the Meat.” Class.
Dominion. That does not sound like a place to buy food. But I guess if it’s mainly because of the meat, I can’t argue that it’s a bad ass name. I wonder why it didn’t stick around…ha.