SMITH'S VOWS TO LEAVE BOISE IF NEW STORE IS NOT OK'D

If Smith's Food King does not win city approval to build a new store in Boise's "bench" area, it will close all of its stores in town, Smith's Vice President Tom Welch says.

That would mean canceling recently announced plans for a big new store on Fairview Avenue, he said. "If we can't (build on the bench), we won't build another store, and we'll leave Boise."Asked what would become of the Salt Lake City chain's current stores, Welch said, "I think it will continue to be a grocery store, but we wouldn't operate it.

"Maybe we'll sell out to Albertson's. They enjoy having a predominant share of the market."

Smith's has proposed a new store at Vista Avenue and Overland Road but has run into opposition from neighbors. It also was voted down by the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission. The site is directly across the street from an existing Albertson's supermarket.

The City Council is expected to rule on the proposed Vista-Overland store on July 18.

Noting that the current proposed site required buying out an entire subdivision, he said, "We didn't undertake the acquiring of 39 homes lightly."

Welch said Smith's wants to improve its position in Boise by replacing its existing stores with larger outlets, in the "superstore" mode.

If the two new stores were built, two others probably would close, Welch said.

Don Keirn, Boise economic development director, said he had not heard of Smith's plans to possibly leave town.