A grand time for grocery shoppers

Three upgraded stores open in area

By ELISHA SAUERS, Staff Writer

Published 11/16/08

Filling the fridge and cupboard with food has never cost more. And with the dour economy, several grocery chains are pulling out all the stops to steer customers back into their stores and away from the competition.

ABOVE: Shoppers meat supervisor Richard Jenkins hands a free turkey to Kisha Taylor-Wallace of Annapolis Saturday during the store’s grand opening celebration. BELOW: Safeway bakery employee John Sterling shows off the gas-fired hearth during the grand opening of the store in Arnold last week.

SLIDESHOW

Shoppers grand opening

Shoppers opens a completely renovated store in Parole giving away 500 free turkeys.

In Anne Arundel County, that meant grand re-openings of three remodeled stores in the past two weeks - a Shoppers in Parole, a Safeway in Arnold and a Giant in Severna Park - complete with new merchandise, interior designs and fixtures, image makeovers and "rebranding" and even some new technology.

The public finally caught its first glimpse of the renovations at the Giant in Severna Park on Nov. 7, the...

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Giant Slipping - 2008-11-18 15:29:15

I agree. The Giant on Forest Drive has been in a downward slide for years. Rotten produce, meat past the expiration, the bare minimum of cashiers. Not very inviting. The sidewalk is littered from the cigarette butts of the constant stream of employees puffing away on the front walk. The deli abandoned its take-a-number system because employees wouldn't utilize it. A new logo is nice, now how about a new management team to match?

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T. H. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Safeway hits the mark - 2008-11-18 09:52:56

I have officially given up on Giant. I was a strong Giant supporter until recently. It?s the store I grew up with and I have always been kind of partial to it. However it?s three main strengths that have been prevalent sense I was a kid have all disappeared. There bakery and meat department that have been top of the line as far as we have been concerned are suddenly mediocre at best and the once, know you by name, personal service is totally dead. I asked for help in finding a dipping spice the other day and the girl looked disgusted and suggested that might be near the meat department and went back to yakking with another employee about her boyfriend. I asked the same thing at the new Safeway and was personally lead to the spice and given suggestions on its use as well as alternatives if I felt it was too expensive. The new Safeway is physically smaller then giant but I have never seen a better variety of products not to mention how well laid out it is. You could spend a few hours in the fruit and vegetable department staring in wonder at the variety of things you never even knew existed. The fresh sourdough and French breads are fantastic, I wish I could eat more bread now. My only complaint is that they as with every place these days is trying to accommodate the ?Organic? fad. FYI: so called organic foods are no better for you!!. IMO the new Safeway now the top grocery store in the area.

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K. Overman - arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

Help - 2008-11-16 11:41:56

There are many ways for people to get help and save on all sorts of grocery bills and other debts. As an example of savings, the government and others, including Maryland, are giving help with mortgages to 2 million people, help with utilities, companies help consoliade debts, save on property taxes, and many other. I found programs and tips here.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/help_with_bills.html

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John Mac - Waltham, MA - Karma: Bad

A 4th market opening ... - 2008-11-16 10:58:12

There?s a 4th supermarket that opened recently and is not mentioned - If you want to support a small local business and enjoy tried and true (and genuine) natural and organic products, check out the Good Life Organic Market on Rte 2 in Severna Park next to the Brian Boru.

My family and I have been going since it opened ? they have everything from bulk goods to health and beauty products, and a soup and salad bar - all natural or organic.

The owner and his wife are always there and will order anything you?re looking for if they don?t already carry it. We typically start our shopping there and if we can?t find something (which is actually rare) we?ll head down to Giant to finish out our list.

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Paul R. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad