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Giant to open pair of new stores in Virginia

Former Shoppers locations feature range of upgrades

Russell Redman

November 6, 2018

2 Min Read

This week, Giant Food plans to reopen the first of two new locations in Virginia formerly occupied by Supervalu Inc.’s Shoppers Food & Pharmacy chain.

Landover, Md.-based Giant, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, said it will open a 37,084-square-foot store on Nov. 9 at 2425 Centerville Rd. in Herndon and a 66,560-square-foot store at 6200 Little River Turnpike in Alexandria on Nov. 16.

Both of the rebannered stores also have been upgraded. Features include expanded natural and organic departments; larger produce, ethnic food, beer and wine selections; and hot food bars. Also offered at the stores are free wi-fi, a full-service PNC Bank, a full pharmacy department and self-checkout. In addition, the Alexandria store houses a Starbucks café.

Giant said the new locations will replace stores at 1228 Elden St. in Herndon and 5730 Edsall Road in Alexandria, which are slated to close the day before the new stores open. While the new Herndon location is about the same size as the store it’s replacing, the new store in Alexandria will be nearly 22,000 square feet larger, a Giant spokesman said, adding that both of the new stores will be accessible to more customers.

"Our team is very happy to have the opportunity to invest in two new stores in Virginia, a market Giant has had a presence in for 77 years," said Gordon Reid, president of Giant Food. "Both stores in Herndon and Alexandria will feature excellent selections and offerings for shoppers, such as a delicious hot food bar, larger produce department, expanded ethnic and international food selections, and full-service deli, seafood, meat and floral departments. These stores are an exciting piece of our ongoing expansion and improvement initiatives.”

So far in 2018, Giant has completed major remodels on 19 stores, including 10 in Maryland, seven in Virginia, one in Delaware and one in Washington, D.C. The two replacement stores in Herndon and Alexandria will mark the chain’s new units opened to date.

Overall, Giant operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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