Haggen agreed to sell its original stronghold of Pacific Northwest stores to Albertsons in what seems to be the final chapter of a convoluted grocery-empire saga, the Seattle Times reported on Saturday. The Bellingham, Ore.-based grocer said Albertsons will acquire 29 of its so-called core stores, a group of locations in Washington and Oregon that Haggen had intended to retreat into when it became apparent its big expansion in the U.S. Southwest was doomed. A lengthy contract filed in bankruptcy court indicates Albertsons will pay a “base amount” of $106 million, subject to various adjustments. The deal requires approval from the bankruptcy court in Delaware overseeing the dismantling of Haggen’s remains. An auction previously scheduled for March 18 has been canceled, Haggen said.
