Giant relaunching grocery pick-up service again

What's old is new again at Giant. The grocery chain offered a Pick Up option for customers at the Westwood Giant in Bethesda way back in 2014. Several parking spaces in the lot out front were designated with signage for Pick Up customers, with phone numbers to alert the store by phone that they were outside and ready for their groceries to be loaded into their car by employees. A large, purple storage case was placed outside the store. Since then, all has been quiet on the Pick Up front, the signs were removed from the special Pick Up parking spaces, and the Pick Up storage container often appeared to be empty. Now there are "signs" that the Ahold-owned grocer is going to make a new promotional push for the service.

A different set of parking spaces outside the Westwood Giant at 5400 Westbard Avenue now have bagged signs. It appeared a curious patron had removed the bag from one of the signs, revealing that they are Pick Up space indicators. The phone number to call when you arrive for pick-up is different from the one on the 2014 signs.

According to Supermarket News, an industry publication, Giant is talking as if the Pick Up service is brand-new. They report the chain intends to roll out Pick Up at all Giant stores in the Mid-Atlantic region by December 31 this year. 

The terms are slightly less-generous than the 2014 launch program. There is now a $2.95 fee and a minimum order of $30 for same-day pickup. In 2014, there was no fee or extra charge, and no minimum order. However, Supermarket News reports that the retailer will offer new users free pickup on their first order of $30 or more, if they enter the promotional code GIANT4 at checkout.

So, look for these signs at your local Giant countywide, as a "sign" that your store now has the Pick Up service. It appears that some Giant stores like Westwood were part of a pilot or test of the Pick Up concept, which is now becoming standard among some of the biggest players in groceries like Walmart and Target.

Rappaport imagines "Bethesda Market" use for vacant Bethesda Place Safeway store

The former Safeway grocery store space under the Bethesda Place apartments continues to sit vacant month after month at 7625 Old Georgetown Road. It's quite odd, considering there is a captive audience upstairs for groceries, as well as many other residential buildings surrounding the site. There are parking spaces reserved for retail use at the building, so that shouldn't be the issue. Perhaps some retailers find the visibility somewhat lacking for drivers passing by.

Real estate firm Rappaport Co. is now trying to re-energize the demand for the space with new marketing materials. They present a vision of a Bethesda Market. 

Do grocery stores consider there is too much competition right now, with another grocery store on the way next year at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, just two blocks away? Walmart has a Neighborhood Market format that fits this space exactly (~40,000 SF), but has closed at least nine of those stores this year, it must be noted. Lidl stores are only 20,000 SF, so one would fit here, as well.

What else is about 40,000 SF that would fit here? Dave & Buster's. Maybe that could give downtown Bethesda's dead nightlife a small shot in the arm.

Rendering via Rappaport Co.
All rights reserved.

Bethesda Harris Teeter sets opening date (Photos)

The new Harris Teeter, located in the Flats at 8300 luxury apartments at 8300 Wisconsin Avenue, will open on August 24, 2016. A pharmacy and Starbucks will be located inside the store, the first Harris Teeter to open in Bethesda (they do have one in North Bethesda's Pike District). Starbucks fans will like to scroll down to see the first supplies being loaded in for the in-store Starbucks.  

UPDATE: WESTBARD GIANT READY TO BRING GROCERY PICK-UP SERVICE TO BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Over the weekend, I reported on the early signs that Giant would expand its Pick-up grocery service to its Westbard store in the Westwood Shopping Center. At that point, the large storage boxes were in place, but nothing else. Now reserved parking spaces have been set aside, and signage is in place to advertise the new service.

This will be the first offering of the Pick-up service in Bethesda. But only the Westbard Giant is participating so far; the Bethesda Row and Georgetown Square stores are not listed, as of yet, on the Pick-up website menu. No official media announcement of the expansion has been made, as of press time, despite the physical and cyberspace evidence it is happening.

Several parking spaces have
now been designated for
Pick-up customers directly
in front of the Westbard store

The large purple boxes behind
the pillar are where your
groceries will be stored and
refrigerated for pickup at
the time you designate

HOSTESS PRODUCTS VANISH FROM BETHESDA SHELVES!

The demise of Hostess has sent Bethesda shoppers into a frenzy, snapping up the remaining supply of cakes, pies, and Wonder Bread from grocery shelves across town.

Hostess section at Bethesda Row
Giant Saturday night

Arlington Road Safeway

Hostess going out of business is unthinkable. A world without Twinkies and Wonder Bread?  Inconceivable. Is this a conspiracy masterminded by Michael Bloomberg?

Why wasn't Hostess too big to fail?

Ultimately, the end of Hostess was a major backfire and Pyrrhic victory for all involved.  I hope the union is satisfied; their 18,500 employees now have no jobs for Christmas.  Despicable.

As for the Food and Fun Police? They're surprising losers in this episode, too.  They said Hostess was failing, because Hostess Haters had convinced America to leave their cream-filled vices behind.  Instead, the mad run on Hostess documented in these photos proves Americans are still crazed about Ding Dongs.  The empty shelves prove the Fun Police have little public support, and should make a belated return to minding their own business.  Heckuva job, guys.

The Hostess name and brands are too beloved to stay gone for good. Fruit Pie the Magician and good old-fashioned Wonder Bread will be back on shelves before you know it.

Twinkie the Kid will ride again.

OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD SAFEWAY GARAGE ENTRANCE TO REOPEN JUNE 9

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Attention Safeway shoppers:

The Old Georgetown Road store's garage entrance is getting a makeover, and will reopen June 9.  Until then, you can use the main Bethesda Place garage entry on Woodmont Avenue.

Or, just go to the other Safeway at Bradley Boulevard and Arlington Road until the 9th.

BETHESDA ROW

PARKING LOTS

NOW CLOSING

APRIL 10

But What Grocery Store Will

End Up in The Darcy?

Remember I said to be skeptical about the last announcement of a closure date for Bethesda Avenue lots 31 and 31A?

Well, you were ready then for the latest delay. Yes, they've moved it (again) from April 1 to April 10.

And 60 days later, Woodmont Avenue will close between Bethesda and Miller Avenues.

I'm wondering just what the parking impact will be. The new electronic signs at the Elm Street Bethesda Avenue garages claim there are between 100-something and 400 spaces available during the evening rush hour/dinner time.

Are those all dining/shopping-suitable spaces? And with 279 spaces being lost, you can tell that 150 spaces in the garage won't cut it. Some people refuse to park in a garage, and some of those folks may be gone for good.

The future replacement parking will be all garage.

The Darcy is one of the two buildings going up on the site, and there are new questions about what grocery store it will have onsite.

Rumors last fall suggested that Harris Teeter would come to Bethesda Row. I seconded that prediction based on the comments of a real estate veteran, and the fact that the same developer snagged Harris Teeter for a building it opened in the District.

But talk of Harris Teeter coming to the (disappointing) Trillium replacement project at Wisconsin and Battery Lane, starts the debate anew.

Can there be two Harris Teeters that close, just as Safeway has two downtown Bethesda stores? It's certainly possible. Will the developer turn to another chain (alas, fellow Wegmans fans, there isn't enough room on the ground floor for Rochester's finest grocery store - unless they give them two floors!)?

Or will the promised grocery concierge simply go down the block to the Bethesda Row Giant?

Stay tuned!