What's the deal with the Safeway on Conn. Ave. in Chevy Chase DC?

[Anonymous]

Secret Safeway was a block west of Wisconsin sort of by Rodman’s?

[Anonymous]

I used to live close to that Safeway -- sad to hear it is still bad. But two subsequent moves put me closest to Safeways each time, and you know what? All Safeways suck. They just suck. No management, they seem to specialize in the worst produce the wholesalers have to offer, and can't keep refrigeration working to save their lives. And expensive. I can only laugh at some of the prices they have for items that are often already beyond their expiration dates.
I am not joking when I say that the #1 priority for my next move is to not be near a Safeway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chevy Chase DC safeway cannot sell beer or wine. It is in their permit from the neighborhood. (Permit probably isn't the technical word, but they aren't allowed to sell it.) Go across the street to Magruders if you need that.

I've lived near that dreadful safeway since 2004 and it just keeps getting worse. The general neighbors complain, but the immediate neighbors don't want a huge store going in on that small footprint. I've gotten to the point that I only buy canned/bottled goods or packaged things like cereal or pasta there and only when I have no other option. Their garlic rots in days. (Ok, it's been a few years since I've bought it, but it doesn't look much better.) Their fruit isn't ripe or sweet tasting. I bought a particular cut of meat there one evening. When I went to put it in the crockpot the following morning, it had turned green. The staff is surly, with a few exceptions. And now they've made the aisles so narrow that they're going to have to make them one way!

There is a weird quirk in DC's Alcohol Licensing where only one branch of a chain store can sell alcohol in the city. So it has nothing to do with the neighborhood.

That can't be right because I can think of many Giants that sell beer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chevy Chase DC safeway cannot sell beer or wine. It is in their permit from the neighborhood. (Permit probably isn't the technical word, but they aren't allowed to sell it.) Go across the street to Magruders if you need that.

I've lived near that dreadful safeway since 2004 and it just keeps getting worse. The general neighbors complain, but the immediate neighbors don't want a huge store going in on that small footprint. I've gotten to the point that I only buy canned/bottled goods or packaged things like cereal or pasta there and only when I have no other option. Their garlic rots in days. (Ok, it's been a few years since I've bought it, but it doesn't look much better.) Their fruit isn't ripe or sweet tasting. I bought a particular cut of meat there one evening. When I went to put it in the crockpot the following morning, it had turned green. The staff is surly, with a few exceptions. And now they've made the aisles so narrow that they're going to have to make them one way!

There is a weird quirk in DC's Alcohol Licensing where only one branch of a chain store can sell alcohol in the city. So it has nothing to do with the neighborhood.

That can't be right because I can think of many Giants that sell beer.

Yeah, I always thought that was a Maryland law, not aDC one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 80's this was dubbed the "Soviet Safeway." Long lines and little stock. The Giant at Van Ness didn't exist--McGruders was the only competition, but limited hours.

The one on Wisconsin between Georgetown and Glover Park was called the "Social Safeway." It has since been considerably spiffed up.

That was not the Soviet Safeway and back then, even though it sucked, it was still better than the Giant at FH.

Soviet Safeway was in Dupont, right?

Yes, at 17th and Corcoran.

[Anonymous]

I never understood why certain upper middle class and above neighborhoods, where people could afford to spend a lot at the stores, don't have nice options. It just doesn't make sense. There are nice Safeways like the one on Connecticut Ave in Kensington but then this one or the one on Sangamore Rd in Bethesda suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understood why certain upper middle class and above neighborhoods, where people could afford to spend a lot at the stores, don't have nice options. It just doesn't make sense. There are nice Safeways like the one on Connecticut Ave in Kensington but then this one or the one on Sangamore Rd in Bethesda suck.

Agree. Safeway could make a lot more money at that site if they put in underground parking and a de ent store. A lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Decent store

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 80's this was dubbed the "Soviet Safeway." Long lines and little stock. The Giant at Van Ness didn't exist--McGruders was the only competition, but limited hours.

The one on Wisconsin between Georgetown and Glover Park was called the "Social Safeway." It has since been considerably spiffed up.

That was not the Soviet Safeway and back then, even though it sucked, it was still better than the Giant at FH.

Soviet Safeway was in Dupont, right?

Yes, at 17th and Corcoran.

Correct.

Secret Safeway was on 20th Street near the Washington Hilton


Social Safeway was the Wisconsin Ave/gtown one.


Maybe the Connecticut Avenue Chevy Chase one should be called Sad Safeway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 80's this was dubbed the "Soviet Safeway." Long lines and little stock. The Giant at Van Ness didn't exist--McGruders was the only competition, but limited hours.

The one on Wisconsin between Georgetown and Glover Park was called the "Social Safeway." It has since been considerably spiffed up.

No, the Soviet Safeway was the Safeway that existed on Wisconsin where the new one at Cathedral Common now sits. It was dirty and when you walked in you could smell the produce and the meat in a disturbing way--similar smell to that of a rural market in a developing country.

[Anonymous]

I wish aldi would go in the former walgreens at van ness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Safeway on Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase DC is abysmal. Their check-out lines (sometimes 'line'!) are (is) brutally slow. The produce aisle offers slim pickings. There is no beer in stock.

I am aware of Magruder's and CVS, but their hours are pretty short, which is problematic given my crazy schedule. I'm relatively new to the neighborhood and would be interested in how other residents of CCDC get around this limitation to an otherwise good neighborhood.

But seriously, how could this neighborhood not offer a full-service, top-notch grocery option?

There are half a dozen other grocery stores within a two mile radius. Go to one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 80's this was dubbed the "Soviet Safeway." Long lines and little stock. The Giant at Van Ness didn't exist--McGruders was the only competition, but limited hours.

The one on Wisconsin between Georgetown and Glover Park was called the "Social Safeway." It has since been considerably spiffed up.

No, the Soviet Safeway was the Safeway that existed on Wisconsin where the new one at Cathedral Common now sits. It was dirty and when you walked in you could smell the produce and the meat in a disturbing way--similar smell to that of a rural market in a developing country.

That was the 1960s Giant straight out of Mad Men, silly. It made way for the new Giant that's there now. They had the nicest cashiers ever, though.

Get your shitty old grocery stores straight.



The Soviet Safeway was the one at 17th and Corcoran. It's still there, I think.

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 WOTP has terrible grocery stores across the board. The folks in CC could have a decent Safeway if Safeway could redevelop its property but the NIMBYs will never permit it.
I use the Harris Teeter in Adams Morgan. Decent selections and the staff is super nice.

[Anonymous]

Just got back from the CCDC Safeway. Yes it is the pits in many ways. Avoid the meat. And they got rid of the nice cheap soda fountain in the bread aisle ... to put in a sushi station. Yeek.

But it is open until midnight. Which is two hours later than CVS there

And the people are nicer than in the "Hidden Giant" at the Friendship Heights metro, which closes at 11 I think

The Safeway at Arlington and Bradley is pretty nice and open 24 hours. Good stock of flowers, balloons, cards.