Now we know what Kroger will do with its adjacent QFC supermarket and Fred Meyer variety store on Broaday. It’ll move the QFC into the Broadway Market building, displacing the Fred Meyer operation and also some of the indie merchants there. The current QFC will close when the new one opens, and presumably would be available for retail redevelopment.

The losers, aside from the small businesses to be displaced, include everyone in central Seattle who buys any Freddy’s merchandise. It’s the only place in Capitol Hill/First Hill that sells paint, hardware, board games, VCRs, underwear, patio furniture and countless other products. No other chain that even bothers with these lines is situated anywhere near Broadway. (Walgreen’s and Bartell’s don’t come close to matching Freddy’s selection in most nondrug categories.)

If anyone wants to start a Save Freddy’s campaign, they can sign me up. If anyone wants to start a new store to replace it, they can hire me to promote it. (Come back, City People’s Mercantile! All is forgiven!)