The Giant grocery store located on 1414 8th St. N.W. closed Sep. 8, at 6 p.m. to prepare for the construction of not only a new Giant store, but a completely new mixed used development.
A 71,000 square-foot Giant supermarket will be replacing the recently closed store. The new constructed Giant store will be twice as large as the previous grocery store that was first primarily serving the Shaw community.
The original Giant had been serving the Shaw community since its opening on Oct. 10, 1979.
For approximately 32 years, the residents of the Shaw community had been relying on the store for groceries, household items, and other commodities. Now, Shaw residents, Howard University students, and other shoppers are left without a grocery store in the neighborhood.
The chain officially confirmed the closing of Giant on Sep. 1, allowing the community one week in advance to arrange for new grocery shopping routines.
Despite the one week warning, many shoppers are being affected by the closed Giant store. Some Giant shoppers are forced to obtain groceries from stores that are significantly farther from their home.
Christopher Wyden, a senior at Howard University, was frustrated when he heard the store was closing.
“I was so mad when they closed the Giant near campus because now I’m either getting my groceries at the Safeway near Piney Branch Road, the Target in Columbia Heights, or the CVS on U St,” said Wyden.
“Giant was the ‘go-to’ grocery store for me because it wasn’t that far off campus. I could easily get all the things I needed and still have someone drive me to my dorm. The fact that it was open 24 hours a day made it so much easier for me to get some random items whenever I felt like getting them too.”
Wyden was not the only one disappointed in the Giant close.
Otha Nevels, a resident of LeDroit Park, explained that the closing of Giant had a dramatic affect on him.
“Giant was the only grocery store within a reasonable walking distance from my home,” said Nevels. “I definitely visited the store long enough to miss it now that it’s gone. I still shop at Giant, but I go to the Columbia Heights location instead. It’s just a major inconvenience for me now.”
Giant declares its main dedication to “quality, value, and service.”
In order for Giant to continue its dedication of service to the community, the chain provided a free shuttle bus to transport shoppers to and from the Columbia Heights Giant grocery store, located at 1345 Park Road N.W.
The shuttle bus provided by Giant began operating the same day Giant closed. One shuttle picks up shoppers at two different locations – 1301 7th St. N.W. and 7 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. – as part of each round trip between Shaw and Columbia Heights.
The shuttle bus operates during the following dates and times:
• Sundays; picks up at 12:00 noon and leaves Columbia Heights Giant at 2:00 p.m.
• Tuesdays; picks up at 9:30 a.m. and leaves Columbia Heights Giant at 11:30 a.m.
• Thursdays; picks up at 9:30 a.m. and leaves Columbia Heights Giant at 11:30 a.m.
The shuttle only operates three days out of the week: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
This schedule has left many customers thankful, yet still distressed.
Conell Johnson, owner of Shabazz Barber Shop, located at 704 O St N.W., believes the shuttle times provided are not exceedingly helpful to the residents in the community.
“The shuttle isn’t the most convenient because everyone isn’t always able to make the shuttle times provided,” said Johnson. “For others in the community, it’s a big deal because there isn’t really anything else local.”
Johnson further explained that he is affected by the closed Giant, but it’s “not that big of a deal.”
“It has affected me because usually I could just shop before I go back home from work,” said Johnson. “But, it’s not that big of a deal to me because they are going to be re-opening another store.”
Even though the closing of Giant was “not that big of a deal” to Johnson, it was a big deal to other shoppers.
“I am so happy that Giant provided a free shuttle, but the hours in which the shuttle runs should be longer,” said Nevels. “Still, I would take the free shuttle because it definitely beats walking to another grocery store that’s far away.”
But, Wyden said, “I personally wouldn’t take the shuttle because it would just be too much of a hassle getting on a ‘time managed’ bus for groceries.”
Many people in the community have different opinions about the shuttle. However, everyone in the community is affected by the closing of the Giant grocery store, whether it is slight or severe concern.
Jamie Miller, Manager Public and Community Relations of Giant, explained that the community was well informed that the Giant off of P St. and O St. was coming to a close.
Before its closing, Giant provided notices to the community through by postings signs throughout the Giant store. Giant also attended Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) community meetings in the Shaw neighborhood to bring awareness to the public about the new mixed used developments.
“The site is being used for additional retail space, and it will be a mixed used development. Therefore, Giant had to close because of the construction that is taking place on that site,” said Miller.
The new development will feature not only a new 71,000 square-foot Giant, but also over 87,000 square-foot of retail stores, 629 residential units, and 500 parking spaces.
“Giant closed in the Shaw community, but this closing is a good thing that is happening to the community. The difference here is that the new Giant will be much larger,” said Miller.
Miller said the new store will provide employment opportunities for the public during a time when the economy is experiencing a high percentage of unemployment rates.
“All of the associates and employees at the closed Giant were giving the opportunity to transfer to other Giant locations,” said Miller.
According to Armond Spikell, Project Manager of Roadside Development, the new mixed site development will provide a large amount of employment opportunities through other retail services as well. Additionally, the construction that is needed to build the site has currently provided “600 construction jobs.”
“The project will provide much needed retail services, including the city’s largest supermarket, 400 full time equivalent permanent jobs, business opportunities for small local retailers, and 84 units of affordable senior housing,” said Spikell. “The entire project will achieve LEED silver designation, and the historic market building will be restored and returned to its original use.”
Spikell explained the project will also provide a package of community benefits, including grants to various tenant associations and neighborhood organizations.
Roadside Development, a Washington D.C. based real estate firm, is planning an event at the site to mark the beginning of the major site work on Nov. 15, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. They hope the public will attend.
At the event, further information will be given on the “City Market at O” and the district’s largest Giant grocery store, which is set to open in spring of 2013.
Geoffrey Hatchard, a Washington D.C. resident, thinks the new development is “fantastic” for the Shaw community. He explains that the extraordinary part of the new development is the construction of a larger Giant grocery store.
“I think a new store will be fantastic for the neighborhood,” said Hatchard.
“The store that was previously there was sub-par, especially when one compares the level of customer service, cleanliness, and selection to larger Giant stores in the suburbs, compared to Bailey’s Crossroads or Wheaton for example.”
Kandace Redd 