Friday, February 05, 2016

Giant apologizes after corporate VP appears to endorse Westbard sector plan

Oops. When Giant Food's Vice President of Real Estate appeared on the speaking list at Tuesday night's Westbard sector plan public hearing, it seemed somewhat odd. Giant is not a landowner, nor a resident, nor a small mom-and-pop shop unable to afford the higher rents landlord Equity One will likely charge at a redeveloped Westwood Shopping Center. Perhaps he would speak to the specific business interests of the grocery chain, whose recently renegotiated lease expires in 2019?

[Up next this morning - a full report on 
last night's second Westbard
public hearing before the County Council]

The testimony of William Shrader, a Pennsylvania-based employee of Giant parent Ahold USA, went further. Too far, in the opinion of many dismayed residents, who overwhelmingly oppose the plan. While some employees of the Westbard Giant store have expressed solidarity with community opposition to the Montgomery County Planning Board's high-density plan - the staging of which could potentially put them out of work for a couple of years, assuming Equity One even decides to re-up with Giant rather than a competing chain - Shrader spoke positively of the plan in broad terms, and sang the praises of the urban mixed-use model that is out of character with suburban Westbard.

Not a good way to endear yourself to the community that buys your groceries.

The higher-ups at Giant don't think so, either, and have acted quickly to distance themselves from Shrader's apparent "gone rogue" testimony.

"We regret that statements were made by our Real Estate representative that went beyond the scope of our supermarket project," said a statement released by Giant late yesterday. "We value our relationship with the community, appreciate the feedback and will continue to work with the developer and community to address concerns regarding the proposed project." Ira Kress, SVP of Store Operations for Giant Landover said the statement was authorized by Giant Food, LLC President Gordon Reid.

I commend Giant for taking prompt action on this matter. Speaking only for myself, I'd prefer to have Giant come back in "The New Westwood" shopping center, as Equity One terms it. Unless Equity One could get the urban Wegman's design (which at about 70,000 SF is not grossly larger than Equity One's proposed 60,000 SF grocery space), Giant certainly has the best selection across all departments of the area chains. The Westbard Giant is the best Giant in Bethesda, if not the whole chain.

The statement also reveals that Giant is apparently already in talks with Equity One regarding opening a future store at Westbard, after the current one is demolished. "The Real Estate arm of our parent, Ahold USA, has been working with the property owner to secure a new lease that will allows us to continue to serve Westbard. As with all projects where Giant is a tenant, our Real Estate team works closely with the developer to ensure that the new project will meet the needs and expectations of our customers."

It also notes the venerable store's 56-year role in the "Westbard" community. "We understand the concerns that have been raised by the community over the development of the Westbard property where our Giant Food store is located.  For nearly 60 years Giant has served the Westbard community, not only providing its grocery needs but participating as an active member in all facets of community life."

Regarding the final point raised in the statement, that "our store lease is about to expire": Contrary to some of the information floating around out there, Giant's lease didn't originally expire in 2019. Years ago, it was said that Giant had a 99-year lease for its Westbard store. While nothing was ever said publicly, it seems Ahold must have renegotiated the lease while Capital Properties owned the shopping center. Giant opened in 1959, and, well, 2019 isn't 2058.

Why a 99-year lease? That's common in "ground rent" situations, an antiquated real estate mechanism that was applied by original Westbard developer Dr. Lazlo Tauber across all of his parcels there.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lots of words this morning.

Anonymous said...

If I found out that our domestic was doing the shopping at that Giant, I would be livid.

Anonymous said...

Interesting... I can't find any reference to the statement online or on their website. Where was it released?

Robert Dyer said...

6:35: Some old-fashioned enterprising reporting and good sources.

Anonymous said...

Is that to say that the statement is not available anywhere for the public to see? Was it transmitted directly to you in an email then? I don't doubt the veracity, but it does seem curious..

Anonymous said...

A secret statement, found nowhere, directed at the general public.

Makes sense to me.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a Benghazi lie to me.

Westbard Concerned Citizens said...

The statement was sent TO ME PERSONALLY and I then made SURE that the MoCo Council entered into the public record regarding this fiasco.

Westbard Concerned Citizens said...

From Gordon Reid, President of Giant, full statement reads:

"We understand the concerns that have been raised by the community over the development of the Westbard property where our Giant Food store is located. For nearly 60 years Giant has served the Westbard community, not only providing its grocery needs but participating as an active member in all facets of community life. As you know our store lease is about to expire. The Real Estate arm of our parent, Ahold USA, has been working with the property owner to secure a new lease that will allows us to continue to serve Westbard. As with all projects where Giant is a tenant, our Real Estate team works closely with the developer to ensure that the new project will meet the needs and expectations of our customers. We regret that statements were made by our Real Estate representative that went beyond the scope of our supermarket project. We value our relationship with the community, appreciate the feedback and will continue to work with the developer and community to address concerns regarding the proposed project."

Anonymous said...

Entitled pansies needing apologies from everyone for every little thing.

Robert Dyer said...

1:09: No, just a representative who overstepped his bounds and gave the mistaken appearance the company was siding against their own customers. You're the entitled pansy who thinks he can transform an established community to fit some radical view where everyone is entitled to free luxury housing with no effort. Nuts

Anonymous said...

Huh? I'm 1:09 and I live in Westbard and I'm against the development. How did you gather all that from my comment about entitlement and apologies?

Westbard Concerned Citizens said...

How did you gather that we are entitled pansies? Perhaps you actually went to the hearing and heard the comments yourself, or maybe not? Since you probably weren't present at the hearing, why do you have such an opinion when you did not even have the statement before I posted it of my own volition, for your edification, because you didn't believe Mr. Dyer's article? It is a legitimate concern for residents that a Giant rep with only SIX months in the DC area testified that what residents want and need in the Westbard Sector is mixed-use development to create a community feel. He's been here for six months ONLY, in DC; compare that to the decades of residency that many Westbard residents have in Westbard proper. We have a well-established community; we don't need an outsider telling us that we need to create a community feel and the best way to do that is to swallow Equity One's and the Planning Board's greedy push to triple density in our sector. The right thing for Giant to do was to acknowledge that Mr. Shrader's comments went beyond the scope of their supermarket project. Giant did the right thing. And Giant didn't call its valued, loyal customers pansies.

Anonymous said...

@ Boob Derp/1:15 PM -Who TF said anything about "free luxury housing with no effort", you insane birdbrain?

Robert Dyer said...

1:36: What did your comment mean, then? You were actually saying Giant executives were "entitled"? Or the residents? Your wording suggested the latter, so that's what I was responding to.

Robert Dyer said...

3:14: Proponents of the plan, that's who.

Anonymous said...

Because you care about such silly things as an apology in a situation like this? Haha

Anonymous said...

Well, well, well. Pretty sad when the proponents of the plan resort to insulting a local blogger.

G. Money said...

Yeah, because Dyer would never insult anyone he disagrees with! (/sarcasm)

Anonymous said...

Ha!