Palmer Carrs celebrates 20 years of business

PALMER -- The Carrs Safeway Quality Center grocery store in Palmer is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend with free food, discounted groceries and a dunk tank run by the Palmer High School football and cheerleader teams, featuring favorite Carrs employees in the hot seat.

"We are hoping for nice weather," joked store manager Terri Clark-Newman. "Most of us live right here, and we are trying to give back to our community."

Janet Metzner and the Misfits played in the store's parking lot on Saturday, and SOBE and the Alaska Potato Chip Company are providing free samples through the day today. Lunch -- a choice of either barbecue ham sandwiches or hot dogs -- has been served all weekend.

The Palmer store opened 20 years ago on May 20, 1984. In the August 1984 issue of the company's internal newsletter, the Carrs Register, Palmer residents expressed their excitement of the store's grand opening.

"When I heard Carrs was opening a store in Palmer, I was really excited. They even gave me a rose when I came in the door," said Sally Johnson in the Register. "That's class."

Saturday brought a host of Carrs dignitaries out to Palmer, including the district manager who served as the store manager when the Palmer Carrs first opened. All current employees are receiving a break in the dress code this weekend -- each employee has been given a T-shirt designed by an Academy Charter School student to celebrate the anniversary.

Along with this weekend's celebration, the Palmer store has been sending out discount coupons for $10 off a $50 purchase, good at either the Palmer or Wasilla store, which was the first Carrs store to open in the Valley.

"They wanted to join in the celebration," Clark-Newman said.

Random Palmer Carrs customers will also receive a 10-percent discount on eligible goods through Aug. 6. Pepsi is sponsoring a free personal watercraft giveaway with entries available at each of the Carrs stores. The watercraft will be on display in Palmer to help celebrate the anniversary.

Clark-Newman said she encourages all Valley residents to stop by the store today to help celebrate -- and to make sure to take advantage of the dunk tank. Funds generated by the tank will go directly to the sport's booster clubs. She said she hopes Palmer residents will be as happy with the store as they were 20 years ago, and pointed out a comment made by Raymond Leboutheller in the 1984 Carrs Register:

"We've waited a long time for a Carrs store in Palmer, and now that it's here, you bet we'll support it. As far as I'm concerned, Carrs really can't be beat!"

Contact Jen Ransom at jen.ransom@frontiersman.com.