The new Giant Food store at Cathedral Commons, on Wisconsin Ave NW, is getting ready to soft open tomorrow. Today I had the opportunity to walk-through the 58,000 sq ft store and see for myself some of the new ideas, and technology that Giant are bringing to the historic Cathedral Heights neighborhood.
First off, don't let the exterior fool you, the store ready to go. The staff are in a state of controlled chaos, as the shelves are filled, and all the work to set up a store is completed, and this with a smile even during a media walk-about.
David Grove, Manager of the new store has put together a great team, and brought back many of the original Giant associates that worked in the old store.
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| Interview time for returning associates |
So what about the store, well its a supermarket, with all the things that you would expect, well nearly. As soon as you walk through the door, well, there is a Starbucks. Nice and cosy for the shoppers to rest up.
The store itself opens up with the new Produce Section, clearly marked, expansive and colorful, the Produce Section also includes a Juice Bar, with Smoothies, and a fresh cut fruit and vegitable center, where members of the produce team will prepare fresh cut produce for you. Oh, and next to the Juice Bar, you can buy Wine or Beer to enjoy while you shop.
The Seafood Section is highlighted by a newly designed (refrigerated) display for some high-end seafood, makes for some interesting photo's. The Deli offers "on-the-go" as well as the traditional, and even has its own resident Sushi Chef.
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| Beer on Tap or Wine as you go-a-shopping |
Giant has asked its customers, and acted on the answers. There are some things that are different in the layout of the store that, at first thought, leave you wondering, and then Pop! - The Beer and Wine are now seperated, The beer is now located with the chips etc. which makes sense, and the wine section uses all that extra space to make one of the biggest supermaket wine sections I have ever seen. There seems to be an isle for everyone, International foods, Organic and
Glten Free foods, and an open Personal Products section.
There are an amazing 12 self-checkout counters, the most in any Giant Store, as well as 10 regular checkouts.
For the geeks out there (I count myself in the crowd) there is a new gizmo that will allow you to scan and bag your shopping as you go..this lets you see how much you are spending, what's on sale and most importantly allows for a speedy checkout process. I saw two bank of the "Scan It" devices (there could be more) by the doors as you enter. Swipe your Giant Card, grab a scanner and bags and off you go - really cool stuff for a supermarket and kudos to Giant Food for employing here at their newest store.
Other ameneties include 2 levels of parking, a PNC Bank and a florist.
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| Giant is the anchor for the mixed use development at Cathedral Heights |
The ribbon cutting ceremony is 11/6 at 6pm, but a soft opening is planned, slated to begin at noon.(if the store is ready) but certainly by 5pm you should be able to visit and shop. The store will officially be open on the 7th November, hours are 6am to Midnight.
The new Cathedral Commons Giant is located at
3336 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington DC.
My thanks to Giant Food, Store Manager David Grove, and David Bahr of SDI International for the invitation to walk through the new Giant Food location.
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