New Giant Grocery Store Celebrating Opening in Alexandria

The new Giant store opened Friday morning at 6 a.m. Look for free samples from each department throughout the weekend for the grand opening.

Here’s more information about the store from a sneak preview earlier this week:

Employees were buzzing around the new Giant grocery store at 621 E. Glebe Road Wednesday morning — unloading fruit, arranging flowers in the floral department at the front of the store and learning how to use new equipment — preparing for a big crowd at the grand opening Friday.

The brand-new Giant is located at Notch 8 in Potomac Yard and will include a new, market-style produce section with fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, a Starbucks café and seating area with complimentary Wi-Fi, a full-service pharmacy and a PNC Bank.

Manager Norman Dichard, who has been with the company for 16 years including working at the Penrose store in Arlington, showed a group of journalists around the store Wednesday, pointing out everything from local brands (like Port City beer) and a smoothie bar (only available at one other Giant, in McLean) to a machine that squeezes oranges for fresh juice you can sip while shopping.

Regional store management were on hand Thursday evening for a ribbon-cutting with Mayor Bill Euille and other City officials as they also handed out a $5,000 check to the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore.

Customers visiting the new store will see an operation that is three times the size of the W. Monroe Giant, which was set to close Thursday at 6 p.m. Customers will likely see lots of familiar faces at the new Giant from the old Giant store, Dichard said. He still has a few openings and hopes to eventually employ up to 175 employees.

The new store is offering its customers all the bells and whistles. At the front of the store you can pick up a “SCAN IT!” hand-held device which you can use to scan your groceries while you shop. At the deli, you can digitally place an order and continue shopping; when your order is ready for pickup, you’ll receive an alert.

The store will offer a seasonal aisle and is already stocked and ready for Halloween with decorations and more.

When you check out, you’ll find 10 self-check out stands and nine regular check-out lanes. If you park in the garage, you’ll get two hours of free parking. You’ll take an elevator down to your car and can leave your basket in one of the designated spots in the parking garage.

Parking in the garage is free for two hours.

The store has hired its own security guard who will remain on the property after the grand opening, the manager said. Giant will also have help on hand to handle traffic during the grand opening as well.