grocery stores

YES! Organic Market Coming To Barracks Row

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

What was originally supposed to be Joseph A. Banks, men’s clothier, will now be Yes! Market on the corner of 8th and Pennsylvania Ave. SE [514 8th Street, SE]. This was previously a Blockbuster. I wonder if the current Yes Market located between 6th and 7th and Pennsylvania Ave. will be closing. Any word on that?”

Wild. I spoke to an employee at the YES! store located at 658 Pennsylvania Ave SE and they say the Barracks Row location will be open in about six months. She also believes that the 658 Pennsylvania Ave SE store will remain open as well. Barrackrow.org now says:

“Yes! Organic Market announced today that they are relocating from their current Capitol Hill location at 658 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE to the former Blockbuster Video space on Barracks Row at 410 8th Street, Southeast.”

So if you live on Capitol Hill you’ll have lots of options to get your YES! Organic Market goods. Think the neighborhood can support the two stores?

Anyone disappointed that the Jos A Bank didn’t come through?

Ed. Note: Those interested in the history of the Erol’s video store can read about it here.

Dear PoPville – Safeway Checking Receipts Before Allowing One to Exit

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

You may have already covered this with the SW Safeway, but the receipt checking has been rolled out at the L Street location too (Sexy Safeway, if one goes by the nicknames to identify the location). Ed. Note: CityVista Safeway

I’m through this location frequently, since I walk past it going home most nights and usually run in at least twice a week to pick up something random that I need for dinner that night or an item that I forgot. So usually 1-4 items picked up, and I’m usually quick to get in and get out so I can get home as early as possible. They just began their receipt checking in maybe the last week or so. The first time I smiled and said no thank you when she asked to see my receipt. She said–nicely–after me, “ok, next time then.” The second time, I did the same. Smiled and politely said no thank you, to which the checker snapped that it was store policy. I told her I wasn’t required to show her anything and kept walking. Seems they’re trying to get more aggressive at this point, but they still allow me to proceed no problem with just a quick, no thank you.

Last night I show up and it looks like a border crossing. They have at least 4 employees posted in the area between the starbucks and the elevators. There is a whole line of products that divide the area in two and people are being funneled into the narrower passage along the elevator wall so that it’s nearly impossible to exit without being physically blocked by the receipt checkers. I notice a distracted receipt checker on the side closest to the starbucks, the area they seemed to have designated as the entrance to the store, and walk right past. I glance out of the corner of my eye as I walk out the door to see the guy trying to wave me back and saying something although I’m out of ear shot at that point. I can see that they’re going to make it extremely difficult for anyone to pass without getting into an altercation, and they have no right to do so. They may ask me for my receipt, but I have every right to decline.

I’ve emailed the general customer service email and they’ve told me they’ve forwarded my complaint to the store manager and the district manager. I’ve also sent their twitter account a quick note since that method seems to get faster responses for other companies. I explained that it’s my personal property after I’ve paid, that I don’t need to stand in line for someone to glance at my receipt, and that I don’t appreciate being treated like a criminal whenever I shop at safeway.

If they’re concerned about shoplifting, then they need to redirect their resources in a way that will actually prevent shoplifting, not in a way that harasses every single customer who walks through their doors. I can see the situation escalating to the point where they block me (or anyone else who refuses this ‘policy’) or lay a hand on me to prevent me from leaving. It’s interesting that the instituted this policy here only after the Giant closed down. It’s gotten crowded enough in this location that I really don’t need to wait on yet another line for someone to search my bags before leaving the store. They’ll lose a customer fast (and I’m sure many others) if they continue this policy.”

Do you guys think the receipt checking is unreasonable? I think they do it at the Rhode Island Ave Home Depot as well. Would you stop shopping at a store that required you to show a receipt before leaving?

Dear PoPville – Props to the Columbia Heights Giant

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Credit where credit is due. As the author of the recent plea for better service at the CH Giant, I can say that this is exactly the sort of thing I’d hoped to see. Thanks to the manager and staff of the Giant for taking the community’s concerns seriously and responding. It’s good to see that they value their customers’ time and loyalty.”

Have you guys noticed smoother/faster lines now?

Ed. Note: Giant Consumer Affairs previously responded to neighborhood concerns here.

PoP Preview – Foggy Bottom Whole Foods Opening Sept. 6th

By Prince Of Petworth

The wave of new openings in Foggy Bottom continues. The positive growth here is fantastic. Devon & Blakely, Roti, Sweet Green, Circa have all recently opened. Filter Coffeehouse, District Commons, Burger, Shake & Tap are all on the way and now Whole Foods opens Sept. 6th. Sweet.

For some reason many of us in PoPville are obsessed with grocery stores. And for those that are – this new Whole Foods will not disappoint. Ed. Note: Full Disclosure after the preview we all received gift bags including a liter of olive oil and sweet potato, potato chips – 2 known weaknesses of mine. The two level 36,000 square feet Whole Foods Foggy Bottom is located at 2201 Eye Street, NW. From a press release:

“The new store offers a host of exciting features, including a vast produce section with seasonal and local offerings; indulgent bakery section serving fresh-made cakes and pretzels, breads and gluten-free options; guaranteed fresh seafood bought straight from local boats and a meat department with over 80% of the meat sourced locally; and more.”

At the end of the day, it’s just a grocery store, but it’s an awesome grocery store.

Lots of photos after the jump. (more…)

City Vista Safeway to Stay Open 24 Hours

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo via Miguel from the MVSNA listserv

Thanks to all who’ve sent emails about the City Vista Safeway, located at 5th and L St, NW, now staying open 24 hours.

What other grocery stores are open 24 hrs?

Dear PoP – Reply from Giant Consumer Affairs

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user rosiedawn

“Dear PoP,

I dropped a dime to Giant and linked your post about their continued crappy service at the Tivoli in Columbia Heights. I thought it was more than the standard response. I hope others did the same.
Stay high and dry”

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about our Tivoli Giant and the recent feedback being posted on one of the DC blogs. I am sorry to hear that you have stopped shopping with us as you also have become dissatisfied with this store. Your comments greatly concern us and we regret that we have disappointed you in so many areas.

I want to assure that we are as committed as ever to providing our customers with the best shopping experience. That includes clean stores, well-stocked shelves, a wide variety of products, quality produce, friendly, helpful staff and a speedy checkout. .

Please be assured that we take everyone’s observations and concerns most seriously and are diligently working to make improvements. I have shared your specific feedback as well as the feedback on the blog with the store’s district manager and appropriate supervision. They will follow up with the store manager to address the situation and take immediate steps to make improvements. We certainly want to make sure that this store measures up to our standards and our customers’ expectations.

We hope you will give us another chance. We would like to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.

Sincerely,

Deborah Riley
Supervisor, Consumer Affairs

Dear PoPville – Why does checkout at the Giant have to be so unbelievably terrible?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user rosiedawn

“Dear PoPville,

On Friday night around 7:00 PM, I stopped into the Giant at Park and 14th St, NW to buy a couple of things for dinner. After 5 minutes of shopping, I hopped into the express aisle with about 5 people in front of me. 35 minutes later, I finally made it to the front of the line and got out of the store. As angry as this made me that night, it’s not remotely unusual. In fact, over two years I’ve probably booked hours in lines stretching halfway through the shopping aisles thinking about how ridiculously awful checkout is at this Giant. Is it that they always put underage checkers on the express aisles where beer and wine are often purchased? Is it that there’s no capacity to open the invariably closed lanes that are all too common during peak hours? Or more likely, is it that there’s no incentive provided to staff to quickly and accurately get people through the line?

Whatever the reason is, I’m more concerned about what it will take for things to improve. I admit I always say I’ll call the manager (whose number is listed on every receipt) when I leave, but I’m just so ready to get out and put the whole awful experience behind me that I never do. I’m curious about what the PoPville community thinks could be done to inspire some change. On Friday, I programmed the number into my phone so I can actually call him while waiting in one of his outlandish lines – maybe if more people did that and described exactly how bad the lines are, we could get things moving. Are there other ideas out there?

And just to be clear – there’s no question that there are actions the Giant management could take to have a positive impact on the lines; this isn’t an issue where there aren’t viable solutions available. I bet your readers (who, like me, have had a lot of time while they wait in line to think) have tons of ideas.”

Shaw’s Giant Closing Sept. 8th – Time to get Excited about the CityMarketatO Project

By Prince Of Petworth


Rendering via Roadside development

Thanks to all for sharing this big development. ANC rep Rachelle Nigro wrote yesterday:

“This afternoon I received information from Giant’s District manger that the Giant will be closing on September 8th. The pharmacy will close on August 22nd and the prescriptions will be transferred to the Safeway on L St. They are working on a shuttle bus schedule to the Giant on 14th and Park Rd.”

For those who haven’t been following these developments – it is part of the City Market at O project. You can learn about CityMarketatO here and here:

“Construction is slated to commence in February 2011 with the preservation and securing of the historic market structure. This will be succeeded in late Summer 2011 with the closing of the Giant Food storeand the razing of the grocery store and excavation of the site. The Giant will reopen in late summer 2013 with the 181-room limited service hotel and 400 units of market rate rental housing opening in early fall 2013. Completing the project, the 84-unit affordable senior housing building and 145-unit condominium will be delivered n fall 2014”

Dear PoPville – Can Anyone Recommend a Good CSA?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Nikoo’s Photos

“Dear PoPville,

I was wondering if you could do a survey of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs in the area. We got a share this year for the first time from a guy out in West Virginia and have been super disappointed. The program was expensive and all we get each week is a sack of stevia, wilted/rotting lettuce, and some extra dirty potatoes. To boot, he follows up each delivery with emails whining about how hard it is for him to bring us the shares we’re paying for, and telling everyone that we should drive to his farm on the weekends to weed his (unproductive?) garden.

We’re going to ditch this guy next year, but we like the concept. We’ve heard that there are great CSAs out there, and wanted to know which ones your readers think have worked out well.”

Ed. Note: We spoke a bit about CSAs back in May ’10 here.

Dear PoPville – Fresh Market – the better option at DC USA

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

“Dear PoPville,

I (unfortunately) work out in Tysons Corner. But something awesome happened recently- Fresh Market opened nearby, in Vienna, VA. It’s something akin to a mix between Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and it’s absolutely awesome. Fresh Market would be an even better fit than that other store that we shall not name that was supposed to open in DCUSA. The fresh produce, meat, fish, and prepared foods are great, and much more affordable than WF. I think Jim Graham and the citizens of Columbia Heights should lobby Fresh Market to see if they’d be willing to locate in DCUSA. Fresh Market seems to be aggressively trying to open more stores in the DC area. Their stores have a smaller footprint than traditional grocery stores, so I think it could work.”

Anyone else familiar with them? Would you guys like to see a Fresh Market at DC USA in Columbia Heights?

View More Stories