I go where the deals are when it comes to my weekly grocery shopping. My selection of store also depends on what I am in the mood for and what I want to buy.

I very much enjoy the fact that Bremerton currently has a variety of stores that between them all, cater to just about everything I want or need.

Some stores have rewards programs that I have decided to participate in with cards or phone numbers to track my purchases. Other stores just focus on low prices and no frills check out services.

There is my neighborhood store that based on the sheer proximity to my home services most of my quick last minute purchases.

You know the ones where you just started pulling out and prepping all the food for dinner and realize you are completely out of one of those key ingredients you were positive you had firmly on hand before you left for work that morning.

Then there is the mini mart that is just a few blocks away for those times when combing your hair and changing out of your yoga pants to go get that single item you can’t survive without is suddenly no longer a problem if you don’t.

If you are really lucky you won’t run into anyone you know or at the very least, they don’t notice that you’re even there.

Bremerton is in a transition period where it is losing one grocer and gaining another. In June the East Bremerton Albertsons will transition over to become a Haggen’s thanks to the regulated merger between Albertsons and Safeway.

The changeover has already occurred at the former Silverdale Albertsons and the Port Orchard and Gig Harbor Safeway’s.

I am very happy to see that instead of Bremerton facing yet another major retail closure in East Bremerton, there will be a new vendor in town. A vendor that by all indications is proving to be open to supporting the local non-profit and small business efforts within the communities that their stores operate in.

Company lump sum donations and the sharing of a percent of sales plan to be disbursed to chosen local non-profit organizations within the first day and following weeks of the stores openings. This is their way of being locally focused and giving back to the community.

Local farmers and producers are also encouraged to review Haggen’s guidelines and requirements for the ability to sell their locally produced items in the stores.

They are also encouraged to attend the informal meetings that Haggen’s holds specifically for this purpose.

I for one am happy to have yet another great grocery choice for my purchasing dollars. Welcome to Bremerton.