Giant Food Store to Begin its Expansion

Construction cones and barriers have gone up in front of the Food Store at , signaling the imminent start of the store's expansion.

Chris Brand, community and public relations manager for the Carlisle-based Giant Food Stores, said Monday that preliminary work, including the removal of a wall, will get under way now, with the "heavy duty" work starting after the holidays.

"We certainly don't like inconveniencing our customers," he said.

The Giant had earlier announced , which calls for adding 8,000 square feet to an existing 58,000 square feet. The front of the store will be bumped out some 20 feet to 40 feet into the parking areas.

Brand said the store will be adding Nature's Promise Marketplace -- a health food store within a store -- with grocery, frozen, dairy and specialty items, including gluten-free products, and expanding the produce area. He said cases will be upgraded, with LED lighting to increase energy efficiency. 

The store opened in the mid-1970s and underwent an expansion in the late 1990s. Under the new plan, the parking lot would be improved and traffic flow simplified, according to township commissioner board minutes.

Brand said the Giant aims for store improvements and upgrades every six to seven years and that the South Whitehall store is overdue. Today's customer, he said, "wants to walk into a 21st century store."

In South Whitehall, it’s a competitive grocery market with , and among those in the township and in nearby Allentown.

"We're certainly aware of the competition," Brand said. "The competition makes us better."

He said the Giant expansion should be completed by May.

The construction cones and barriers are in the front of the store. New traffic lanes are routing motorists around the cones.