It’s a healthy problem for a grocery store when shopping carts are scarce at the entrance.

Especially when it’s 9:44 a.m. and the store is not even an hour old.

“Dude, there’s like, no carts,” said a surprised customer.

Haggen’s first day in Oak Harbor opened with a bustle of activity Friday as the store and parking lot filled quickly with inquisitive customers, leaving cart attendants running.

The opening came after a whirlwhind, two-and-a-half day store conversion that turned familiar Safeway signage to a fresh Haggen banner.

“We thought we’d come early and try to beat some of the crowd,” said Jim Stroh of Coupeville.

“I don’t know if we did that.”

Oak Harbor’s Safeway was among 146 Safeway and Albertsons stores from five states acquired by Haggen as part of the divestment process required by the Federal Trade Commission after the merger of the two grocery store chains.

Haggen didn’t acquire the Oak Harbor Albertsons, which will be converted to the Safeway banner next month.

Although there was fresh paint and new signage, new products and a new cashier system to work through — and even new hats worn in the bakery — one thing that didn’t change were the familiar faces.

Haggen retained Safe-way’s employees and managers. They were on hand to greet customers Friday morning wearing smiles and the Bellingham-based chain’s signature green colors.

Employees cheered as the first wave of customers entered the revamped store at 9 a.m.

“I think as long as they keep the same people, I am happy with whatever they do,” said Oak Harbor’s Jane Fikse, a longtime Safeway shopper who came to the Haggen opening.

“Their staff is the best in town.

“The employees are what makes this business, and I saw them all smiling.”

Steve Bader, Haggen’s regional vice president of the Pacific Northwest Division, looked relieved Friday to see the new Haggen store up and running.

The Oak Harbor store is one of 26 conversions slated in Washington state alone.

Local farmers and other food producers, as well as nonprofits, other organizations and community members, will get a chance to meet with corporate executives and learn more about potential partnerships at a community meeting 5-6 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.

“We depend on each store to do identify the things local in their communities,” he said.

“I am excited to have a store in this community. I think this store will do very well.”

Joseph Boyles, a security guard who greeted customers at the entrance Tuesday through Thursday, guessed he had to tell about 30 people an hour that the Haggen store wasn’t open for business yet.

But that all changed Friday morning.

“It’s kind of like the first day of kindergarten,” store Manager Sherrie Sadighi told a group of employees before Haggen opened its doors.

Meanwhile, Safeway isn’t wasting any time returning its name to the community.

The Albertsons-to-Safeway conversion is underway at the Erie Street store with an extensive remodel taking place and the banner change now expected to occur by early April instead of the summer, said company spokesperson Sara Osborne.

The gas station, formerly operated by Safeway, is now separately run as a 76 station and no longer honors a Safeway rewards card.

The Albertsons remodel will take about two months.

Safeway, a fixture in the Oak Harbor community since 1967, will hold an official grand re-opening in mid-May, Osborne said.