Albertsons is the most sterile, the most boring, the most industrial-looking and feeling grocery in the world. There is more food culture in a WalMart than there is in an Albertsons. The Safeway at 40th and Donald has slowly been transmogrifying into an Albertsons, despite its Safeway branding. It used to feel like it was managed by human beings--but more and more the place is just the remote arm of an automaton corporate calculator. And Safeway itself was not exactly a Portland food cart in its human-ness! Only the experienced checkers and stockers there remind you that there is still life in the place.  

You have to give credit to Albertsons, though, for its imperial maneuvering. And to all the other parties for their incredible incompetence.