CityVista Safeway Unfurls Opening Date

I’m really excited about this! In a little over a month we will have both a grocery store (Safeway) and a gym (Results) one block away! Oh, and a Busboys and Poets too!

Coming back from HT this weekend in Pentagon City, I was commenting to Mrs. Columbo how nice it will be to be able to walk to a grocery store soon. And getting to HT/Pentagon City isn’t even difficult from PQ.

But to walk! So nice.

A grocery store? We’re getting a grocery store? You wouldn’t know it from most of the postings on this site.

I think once the Safeway opens, any interest in getting Balducci’s on 7th Street will wane. I don’t think the neighborhood can support two grocery stores, and Safeway will have a far superior inventory, lower prices, and if their hype is to be believed, it will have lots of yuppie and prepared and organic foods.

I predict an uptick in residents demanding either a more upscale grocery store, like Dean & Deluca, or for one they’ll never get, like a Wegmans.

I think it is up to Safeway to see if the residents will be pleased. I understand Safeway is going to provide higher quality produce and meats/poulty/fish. If we can get honest fresh high quality fish or chicken that wasn’t raised on steroids and not colored to mask its freshness, then Safeway has a chance.

Just think how much you’ll miss the O St. Giant trips?

No more bourgeois cocktail party stories that begin with, “you’ll never guess what happened in the Giant checkout line…”

Balducci’s at 7th and D would make a fortune. LOTS of people at that intersection all day long, including plenty of residents – none of which want to schlep all the way to 5th & L if they don’t have too. Balducci’s could probably also do well with an additional location in the 1010Mass bulding to capture the NW corner of downtown and the SE corner of Logan.

anyone know when the Busboys and Poets is slated to open?

Just because Shaw gets a Safeway doesn’t mean we can’t support a small grocer in Penn Quarter, especially one that isn’t a traditional grocer. I don’t think a 15-20 minute walk (each way) to Safeway will be all that convenient, especially carrying a weeks worth of groceries for a family. There’s definitely room for a Balducci’s or a specialty grocer, especially one that has a strong prepared food offering. Specialty grocers like Balducci’s or Trader Joe’s draw a large number of customers from outside the general vacinity, not just the immediate neighborhood like Giants or Safeways do.

By the way, I saw two men working in the “Zola Wines” space this morning? Any movement on that?

@PQ Observer

I’d be surprised if there is dramatic paradigm shift from how Safeway normally does meat at this store. It will probably still be the Rancher’s Reserve line. I just expect the selection to be wider and more prepared foods. Sort of like Harris Teeter. My guess is they are just trying to raise the bar at Safeway as opposed to create one special store that emulates Whole Foods. But very little info has been leaked so it’s really just speculation…

I do want to point out as well a grocery store is planned for the OCC site & the Giant is to be redeveloped. But I say bring em all on, the more the merrier!

Safeway and Balducci; I will shop in both

The Safeway is not in Shaw – it’s Mount Vernon Triangle, a distinct neighborhood wedged between Shaw and PQ/GP/Chinatown/East End/Whatever-you-want-to-call-it.

Regardless, the area can support both Safeway and a Balducci’s, as they serve different food segments of the grocery market.

But seriously, can we have a brief pause on the whining that the Safeway is sooooo far away? Safeway opening is a great thing for the area. (No pause? Okay, I didn’t think that would actually happen.) It’s not on another planet – it’s closer than any other existing grocery store. It won’t be walking distance for everyone, but it’s a short bus ride, taxi or drive for just about anyone reading this blog, and it will NOT be a typical slummy Safeway.

@Andy – I think there is room for both for a specialty grocer (Balducci’s) and the Safeway. But for those large “weeks worth of groceries” trips you describe walking is going to be cumbersome whether it’s 3 blocks or 8 blocks. You should look into getting a folding rolling cart if you need to do big grocery trips sans car.

Jury’s out on this one for my girlfriend & me until the safety issue is addressed. The farther north & the farther east, the more dangerous this area is. Too many murders & muggings north of H Street, not that Seventh Street at the V Center is safe.
It’s a good step for the area, I agree, but even better would be strong police presence. & walking down Seventh Street with bags would be dangerous – need to have your hands free. Don’t wear your iPod or other music device, the criminals call that being deaf. That’s the main benefit of going to Virginia to buy groceries – safety – even Trader Joe’s at 25th & L is worth the bus ride for safety. That said, good luck & let’s hope it works.

I have been walking to Giant from the Avalon for 4 years and have had 0 problems. Has anyone who posts on this board been mugged for groceries? It takes 13 minutes each way and I can usually manage enough food for 3-4 days.

That being said, I am very happy about the Safeway’s arrival. I am sure it will look somethin like the Giant at Van Ness.

#9:

According to the Global Exchange website, they will open this month.

“The first new Busboys and Poets will open in August 2008. Located in Mount Vernon Triangle on the corner of 5th and K streets NW in the new City Vista development, this Busboys and Poets will be part of a mixed use complex combining median and lower priced condominiums, retail shops, a grocery store, a gym and a beautiful park in the center of the block.”

More info:
http://store.gxonlinestore.org/articlepagepast.html#washingtonstores

I am amazed at how bad even the “good” mainstream grocery stores are in this area. The Safeway in Georgetown – Its in an extremely affluent area so one would assume its customers expect high quality produce – but it always disappoints. The prepared foods are a joke. Ditto for the Giant in Cleveland Park – What a dump! Given these examples I am not very hopeful that the new Safeway here will be any better. That’s why I keep hoping for a Balducci’s to move in.

uh – they don’t mug you for groceries, they mug you for your money, but carrying groceries or anything makes you more vulnerable. That said, I’m glad you haven’t been mugged on your groceries trips to the Giant, but I’ve seen people mugged in the parking lot there. My girlfriend saw a guy shot there two years ago.
There must be a reason they have armed guards at the store entrance. The Social Safeway in Georgetown doesn’t have armed guards; likewise, the CP Giant [a true dump].
# 19, I agree on the pathetic groceries in DC in general. Other than Whole Foods, grocery retailers [& many other businesses] apparently see no need to offer good quality or service. It’s a DC thing, apparently, & I’ve suffered through it for 15 years. Not sure if there’s a good answer other than WF.

A Balduccis would certainly flourish. Not everyone will frequent the Safeway.

Personally, I don’t intend on going to the Safeway at all. To get what I need, I might as well drive. If I am going to drive, I might as well just make it a trip to Wegman’s or Whole Foods where I KNOW I can find quality stuff.

#14, LOL and right on target! It’s hilarious how some posters talk about schleping “all the way” to 5th & L.” Yeah, all that way; wow, what a trek. Better take water and a flashlight to brave the journey.

Smith MBA, I guess you’re lucky that you’re not one of the “too many murders and muggings North of H Street.”

God help us all until we can get a specialty grocer on 7th Street. Lives are at stake!!

@21 – Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

hmmm – multiple references to Harris Teeter and Giant, but none of these mention the (very accessible) locations of these stores that I go to.

Giant at Columbia Heights is a very quick ride up the Green line.
HT on Pennsylvania Ave SE – a quick ride on the Blue/Orange line, or one of the 30s buses. These are both very nice stores; I would think PQ residents would be using them a lot.

That said – I don’t agree that the Safeway and availability of other options means that Balducci’s won’t succeed. Most people in PQ will most frequently gravitate to the place that is the shortest walk from home, and supplement with the others. Lots of residents (and workers) around that site to support Balducci’s.

great news for pq and mt vernon sq.

for anyone who’s never walked to the grocery store or market, you just make trips and carry what you can in your hands. it will all work out in the end.

You’ll also be able to rent a bike (http://mvtriangle.blogspot.com/2008/08/smartbike-dc-starts-august-11th.html) to peddle past the hordes of bandits who will be preying on the poor, unsuspecting people walking to and from the Safeway, which apparently will be selling poisonous, unhealthy, and/or otherwise inedible foods

I’m very excited about the Safeway opening, especially with guaranteed short lines. Since most of the PQ residents seem either too scared of 5th & L or too lazy to walk that far, all of us Shaw residents should have the place to ourselves:)

Note to self: watch your back above H St. but don’t worry about the wandering groups of obnoxious teens everywhere below H.

Does anyone know what happened at the city vista last week? We went to 5th Street Hardware and found all of the storefront windows had been shattered by bullets.

Safety aside, I choose to drive to the Virginia HT for the customer service. In general in DC, customer service is appalling and the worst I have ever experienced in any part of the country in which I have lived. I will give it a try, but don’t expect much more from this Safeway other than rude, disrespectful and hostile interactions.

#20, I hear you. Not sure if some of these bloggers have walked down 7th Street lately near the Verizon center on a weekend night after 8:00 p.m. This past Saturday, I saw police chasing one kid down the street while another was thrown up on the hood of the cruiser. Meanwhile probably 50 other of our weekend neighbors were cracking jokes at the cops trying to do their job.

5th and L is not bad- I know, I live across the street from City Vista! The police station on NY Ave is right there, and I’ve not once had a problem. Walk up 4th, 5th or 6th and between NY and M, it’s all renovated row houses, and some condos. This will be a great addition to a neighborhood filled with young people who probably do not have the budget for regular grocery shopping at Whole Foods, or a car for driving to nicer supermarkets.

The Safeway will be a net positive for the neighborhood. Have rarely had any issues with Safeway. More foot traffic and a new store are two of the benefits.

@Freddie 16,20
I agree that the O Street Giant premises doesn’t give you a safe feeling. 7th Street below New York Avenue is not dangerous so I disagree with you there. I’ve walked it many times at all hours.

@Andy 28
Someone did shoot at the windows in the stores along 5th Street. See this link at The Triangle.

@Anon 29
The situation in Darfur is appalling. Grocery store customer service may be bad or inattentive or rude but it’s never appalling.

@28,31

I’ve learned from Lt Gary Durand that the windows shattered at City Vista were shot by a BB Gun or CO2 rifle.

The vandalism is outrageous no matter the instrument used. But from a safety perspective it eases my mind a bit to know this was a BB gun and not a handgun.

thanks for the link to the Triangle, #31 – lots of interesting info there, including the crime report map. does anyone know of a crime report map for PQ?
I know I’m not as brave as most of the posters here – I try to plan my excursions based on what I’ve read, heard, & seen, & try to avoid the areas where bad stuff happens, e.g., walking on the west side of Seventh Street, not the east side, even if my destination is on the east side.
But – whatever. different strokes for different folks.

Safeway is hiring, they just put up a sandwich board.

just a reminder folks…no ‘you should move to’ comments, as tempting as it may be, per our comment policy. they will not be approved. you are welcome to resubmit comments if they don’t pass muster.

the management

#29 – I disagree. Have you ever even gone to the Capitol Hill HT? you should try it…

Right on, # 36, since I agreed with # 29 on the appalling, truly appalling, service in DC, this weekend I shall visit the Harris Teeter on Capitol Hill. Hope it’s somewhere near as nice as the ones down South. Speakin’ of the South, what are the chances of a Piggly Wiggly located here? A Publix? We’re well below the Mason-Dixon Line!
signed, a northern boy

The thing about the service in DC is that it isn’t limited to any particular type of business. I’ve experienced just as many couldn’t-care-less grocery cashiers as I have couldn’t-be-arsed servers…smarmy hosts/hostesses, checked-out pharmacy clerks, etc. You’re going to get some of those no matter what city you’re in, of course…but the abundance of downright poor service I have experienced here is really something to behold.

I get consistent good service at all Whole Foods and Harris Teeter locations. It’s a top-down thing. And, it usually reflects good treatment of employees. Adversarial relations between management and employees usually ends up in poor service to customers. My 2 cents.

Fantastic service at the Trader Joes in Foggy Bottom.

Amen on having a Publix locate here — Safeway and Giant would be out of business in a week because all their customers would see that it is possible to have clean stores with good produce and meat selections with out going to a “speciality” grocer

Publix! Publix! Publix!
Thanks, #41, & great description of Publix for those Yankees unfortunate enough never to have blissed out at a Publix. Sparkling clean stores, with friendly, helpful workers, & an awesome fruit & produce section, great seafood & meats & cheeses, wines & beers, fine deli, excellent [artisan] store-baked bread – & maaay Iiii sliiice that for youuu, sir?

Safeway opening on Sept. 12 is old news from July! (plea: someone read my blog!)

Next tidbit: Results is not going to open on their announced date. The exterior looks good but the interior is far from done – a staff member estimated a month delay.