Market of Choice Completes Acquisition of Hillsdale's Basics Market

Hillsdale is getting a new grocer: Market of Choice has completed its acquisition of Basics Market, officially adding its fifth Portland-metro location and 13th store statewide.

The last remaining Basics Market location, situated in downtown Hillsdale, will become a Market of Choice on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, with no store closure planned. The Eugene-based chain announced its intent to purchase the store on Jan. 16, 2026.

While the acquisition secures the future of the popular neighborhood grocery spot, for Market of Choice President Zach Wright, the deal is personal.

The move into a smaller footprint store was a vision Wright shared with his father and Market of Choice founder, Rick Wright, who passed away in June 2025. The two had been scouting locations for a "smaller concept" store prior to Rick's death, including looking at the former Food Front location in Northwest Portland.

"It was something he really wanted to try," Wright told Stumptown Savings by phone on Jan. 21, 2026. "This was something I really wanted to try and was really on my radar."

When Basics Market founder Chuck Eggert approached Wright a few months ago looking to sell his last remaining store to a local operator with shared values, the timing finally aligned.

The Timeline: The transition is expected to take place on June 23, 2026, with no store closure. A grand opening celebration will follow at a later date, pending remodel plans that include a new Market of Choice facade and interior refresh.

The Selection: Customers will have access to local products including farm-fresh organic produce, artisan-baked goods, specialty cheeses, and sustainably raised beef, pork, and seafood — consistent with the Market of Choice lineup at its other Portland-area locations.

The Branding: Once the transition is complete, the store will be rebranded. In January, Wright indicated the company was considering the name "Market of Choice Hillsdale" to emphasize the neighborhood-market feel of the location, distinguishing it from their larger flagship stores. No final decision on the name has been announced, but remodeling plans are underway.

Longtime Southwest Portland residents may remember Market of Choice's previous attempt at a smaller store on Terwilliger Boulevard, which closed in 2019. Wright was candid about why that location didn't work and why Hillsdale is different.

"I think we tried to do too much in too little space," Wright said of the Terwilliger location, noting they attempted to cram full-service departments into a small footprint. He also cited the notorious traffic patterns at that intersection as a barrier to success.

The Hillsdale location offers a "turnkey" solution with a layout that already works. "We're confident," Wright said. "I've spent a lot of time at the Basics Market ... it's going to be a good location for us."

A major priority for both Eggert and Wright is the retention of the current staff. Wright praised the Hillsdale team, noting that many have worked with Market of Choice employees in the past.

"They have really, really great employees at that location," Wright said. "We're excited and hopeful that they'll want to stick around and be a part of Market of Choice."

The Hillsdale store is designed as a pilot for future expansion. If the small-format model proves viable, Wright said it could open the door for Market of Choice to enter other Oregon neighborhoods that can't support a full-size supermarket but need a community anchor.

"It gives us a new model to try and expand," Wright said.

In a statement released May 1, Wright framed the Hillsdale acquisition as both a community commitment and a strategic test.

"We're excited to become part of the Hillsdale community as a local anchor, providing access to fresh food and strengthening the neighborhood economy," he said. "This location represents an important moment for us as we test a smaller, neighborhood store format that, if successful, could shape how Market of Choice grows in communities across Oregon."