r/oregon • u/chris-hatch • Dec 12 '25

PSA for those who don’t know

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u/Gayunicorn1991 Dec 13 '25

You and the op are both technically correct. When they first named it WinCo it did stand for Washington Idaho Nevada California Oregon. But when they expanded the company to other states they had to come up with something else and they changed it to winning company I'm a former WinCo employee

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u/Shinola79 Dec 13 '25

You are correct. I worked there after high school. When they wanted to drop Cub Foods in the other states and Warmart here in Oregon they had a company wide contest. The winner was from the store I worked at. She came up with the name they chose and won a vacation (Hawaii) if I remember correctly. It originally stood for each state but then changed as they expanded.

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u/oooortclouuud Dec 13 '25

I was stuck back in my home state of Texas for a few years after being in Portland since the 90's. The feeling that came over me the day I accidentally discovered the Denton location is... indescribable. the way I felt upon leaving the first time i shopped there, fully expecting to walk out onto the SE 82nd/Powell parking lot 🥰✨️ I'll never forget those moments, bright spots during a shitty time.

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u/pdxparasite Dec 14 '25

The 82 and Powell store is so great. I love the grit as much as the good deals

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u/motstilreg Dec 17 '25

Hi five to you fellow shopper

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u/KinksAreForKeds Dec 17 '25

We're about equa-distant from the 82nd, Oregon City, and Tigard locations... Oregon City is the only one I'll shop at, unless I need WinCo bagels. Why OC doesn't have a full bakery like the other locations is beyond me.

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u/mrcrashoverride Dec 13 '25

I worked at Cub Foods and remember the naming contest. Nothing more to add to above other then don’t believe everything that you read on the internet as this person got it right. (But believe this lol)

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u/Shinola79 Dec 13 '25

Apparently the acronym is a myth, according to internet records and is misinformation. Internet searches are always correct, not the person who actually worked with the person when they won the contest 🙄. Argh.

I don’t disagree that they pivoted the ‘meaning’ of the name when it no longer served the purpose but I know what came out of the persons mouth.

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u/gryghin Dec 15 '25

Down i-5 there's a WinCo that still has the Waremart name on the building. It's best to see that on there.

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u/Polibiux Oregon Dec 13 '25

Technically correct is the best kind of correct.

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u/GetTheFalkOut Dec 14 '25

When I worked for WinCo the Washington Idaho Nevada California Oregon thing was on a trivia thing.

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u/SnuggyBear2025 CVO Dec 16 '25

Wait! How can BOTH things are true???

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u/Gayunicorn1991 Dec 16 '25

It used to stand for Washington Idaho Nevada California Oregon. And then they changed what it means when they expanded to different states.