Fred Meyer reportedly had proposed to buy the Greenwood Market and expand its own adjacent location. But Larry Nakata, whose family owns and operates several successful neighborhood markets in King and Kitsap counties, says that any offers being considered might never be consummated, in part because a local citizens group questioning the deal is concerned the remodel would not fit the community's plan for its commercial district.

Fred Meyer has supermarkets in six Western states. The chain is owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger, one of the nation's largest grocery retailers with more than $50 billion in annual sales. Kroger stock was trading at $22.28 Thursday afternoon, up 3 cents a share from Wednesday's close on less than average volume. It's 52-week price range is $17.50-$27.93.