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Clarendon Trader Joe’s Receives Building Permit

Published July 14, 2011 at 1:18PM

The store was originally slated to open “mid-2011,” but that hoped-for opening has been pushed back due to an unexplained delay in applying for (and getting) the necessary permits and inspections. In May, a Trader Joe’s rep told ARLnow.com that the store is expected to open by the end of the year.

In addition to the building permit, Trader Joe’s has also received a zoning permit that will allow it to modify the building’s first floor facade (pictured) for use as a grocery store. The only other regulatory hurdles that remain, for now, concern the store’s fire prevention plan.

Around Town

New Giant Opens on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published June 23, 2011 at 7:50PM

Cash registers are ringing at the long-awaited Penrose Square Giant on Columbia Pike.

The store opened its doors to customers tonight in advance of its official opening Friday morning. Shoppers enjoyed free wine and food samples and the music of a live mariachi band.

Events

New Pike Giant Will Offer Tastings, Prizes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 20, 2011 at 12:26PM

The grocery store will be offering wine tastings, tapas samplings and prizes to customers from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Prizes include free bags of Giant brand products and free groceries for a month.

The 60,000 square foot store, located at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Adams Street, will open its doors at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24.

Around Town

Opening Date Set for New Columbia Pike Giant

By ARLnow.com

Published May 13, 2011 at 10:56AM

An opening date has been set for the new Giant supermarket in the Penrose Square development.

The 60,000 square foot store, located at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Adams Street, is planning to hold its public grand opening on Friday, June 24.

Around Town

Trader Joe’s Signs Lease in Clarendon (Finally)

By ARLnow.com

Published March 1, 2011 at 9:44AM

So it was with the grocery chain’s new Clarendon location. For months now, the company has kept observers wondering when they would finalize the lease for 11,000 square feet of prime retail space on the ground floor of the Clarendon Center project.

First, the store demanded concessions from Arlington County, which were granted. Then, we hear, they insisted on holding off on the lease until they were granted certain county permits.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 17, 2011 at 8:43AM | Updated January 17, 2011 at 1:55PM

State Senator’s Husband Pens Alarming Column — Tom Whipple, husband of state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D), has penned a column entitled “The Peak Oil Crisis: Civil Unrest” for the Falls Church News-Press. He writes: “By failure to guide the country to real solutions to real problems, our leaders are risking increasing violence as the frustrations of an unknowing people continue to grow.” [Not Larry Sabato]

Grocery Store and Development Proposed for Bergmann’s Site — A developer wants to bring a grocery store to the site of the Bergmann’s Cleaners on Lee Highway, provided the county also approves a 12-story apartment building next door. The apartment site is currently zoned only for single family homes. [TBD]

Around Town

Shirlington Harris Teeter Gets Parking Meters

By ARLnow.com

Published January 13, 2011 at 10:18AM

The spaces, located on the ground floor of an adjacent parking garage, are often full, leading to complaints to Harris Teeter management. Even though the spaces are reserved for grocery customers and limited to one hour, an employee tells us that drivers often flout the rules by parking in the spaces and heading to other stores.

The new meters are expected to “go live” on Saturday. Much like the meters at the Harris Teeter in Pentagon City, the Shirlington meters will have a button that will give drivers an hour of free parking. Coins will not be accepted.

Around Town

Board to Hear Grocery Store-Related Proposal for Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published September 22, 2010 at 12:38PM | Updated September 22, 2010 at 12:56PM

The firm that operates the underground shops at 2100 Crystal Drive wants to take 5,661 square feet of open retail space and convert it to office and storage use. But that would come at the expense of a vacant 17,919 square foot space that, until 2005, housed a Safeway store. The landlord has been trying to find another grocery tenant, but has been fighting a strong headwind caused by the weak national economy and the imminent departure of 13,000 jobs from the Crystal City area.

Essentially, the request to convert vacant space to an office use is a white flag — an admission that after five years of trying to market the space to grocery stores, leasing agents have come to the conclusion that no one wants to run a 17,919 square foot grocery store in the Crystal City underground at this time. While keeping open the possibility of a smaller, Trader Joe’s-sized market, the landlord is trying to find a way — any way — to productively fill some of the excess space.

Around Town

Crystal City Trying to Attract a Grocery Store

By ARLnow.com

Published September 1, 2010 at 10:46AM | Updated September 1, 2010 at 12:56PM

Crystal City has been without a grocery store for more than five years. But now, as developer Vornado works to attract more residents to the area, it’s also working hard to attract a new grocery store.

The Safeway that had served as Crystal City’s lone grocery store closed its doors in March 2005. The store had been an anchor tenant of the Crystal City Underground for 38 years, but decided to close when surface parking was eliminated as part of the revitalization of Crystal City.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 1, 2010 at 7:50AM

It’s September — Start mourning the end of summer now — and get to the pool while you still can.

Man Goes Bananas in the Vegetable Aisle — Police are trying to find a man who walked into the Virginia Square Giant, spit on the vegetable display, sprayed hand lotion on a candy display, and assaulted a cashier. He’s described as a six-foot tall, 30-year-old white male with a ponytail. More from TBD.

Weather

Here We Go Again: Snoverkill Eve In Photos

By ARLnow.com

Published February 9, 2010 at 9:28PM

We know the drill by now. As the latest snow storm to blanket the Washington area arrived tonight, the plows were already out. The roadways were less busy. Pedestrians were wearing boots and heavy coats. And the grocery stores that hadn’t closed early were already picked clean of many items.

That’s right, we’re getting pretty good at this. More photos, after the jump.

News

Grocery Stores Closing

By ARLnow.com

Published February 5, 2010 at 8:14PM

Update at 8:10 PM – The Pentagon City Harris Teeter is closing within the hour. The Ballston store is planning to close at midnight. Both stores say it is unlikely they’ll open tomorrow.

Local Giant stores are, apparently, toughing out the storm. The South Glebe Road and the Virginia Square stores are both planning on closing at midnight and re-opening at 6:00 AM.