PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle here said it will change the name on 53 Stop-n-Shop stores in Cleveland to the Giant Eagle banner on Sept. 16.
nits in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia.
Giant Eagle already operates 16 stores in northeastern Ohio under its own name. Stop-n-Shop is a 40-year-old banner in Cleveland that was used by Riser Foods, which Giant Eagle acquired last year.
Once the name change is completed, the stores will retain the family names they use now, such as Rini-Rego Giant Eagle rather than Rini-Rego Stop-n-Shop, the company said. Among the changes that will accompany the name change:
Expanded hours of operation, with 22 of the 53 stores converting immediately to 24-hour operations -- a move that, along with other initiatives, will create as many as 350 new jobs, Giant Eagle said.
Full-service pharmacies at select stores, and expanded health and beauty-care sections. Introduction of the Giant Eagle Advantage Card to replace Stop-n-Shop's Preferred Shopper's Club Card.
Introduction of Giant Eagle private-label brands.
Introduction of Eagle's Nest, a child-care section that will be phased in at selected stores over several years.
Introduction of an "Apples for the Students" program that will provide support to local schools.
A continuation of Stop-n-Shop's sponsorship of the Cleveland Indians baseball team and promotional events with the Cleveland Browns Trust.
