The GIANT Company is leveling up the playing field—literally. Recently, the retailer announced it is planning to open a new, urban, two-story flagship store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, next month.
“Philadelphia’s grocery scene is experiencing a major renaissance, and The GIANT Company has been at the forefront, introducing new formats, opening new stores, and expanding grocery delivery services,” said President Nicholas Bertram. “Our Riverwalk store celebrates this transformation, offering an elevated omnichannel grocery experience unlike anything Philadelphia has ever seen. Expertly designed to meet the needs of urban dwellers, [the] store is the perfect blend of modern sophistication and surprise, and of course, pays homage to the city’s fantastic food scene. We can’t wait for opening day and to finally let the community discover what we’ve created for them—a one-stop destination for all things food.”
According to the release, the new 65,000-square-foot store occupies two stories of a 25-floor residential tower. Residents living above the new store have access to a private elevator which brings them directly from their apartment to the second level sales floor, allowing some shoppers to never even have to leave the building.
GIANT’s new urban flagship store features the company’s largest plant-based section to date. Customers will find meat and fish substitutes including Impossible and Beyond products, vegan cheeses, ice creams, and other desserts.
A full-service meat and seafood department includes a newly introduced aged beef program with steakhouse quality cuts, such as bone-in rib eyes and strips aged in-house for up to 42 days. The store will also offer a wide range of fresh, sustainably sourced seafood, including fish, lobster, and shellfish.
The Riverwalk location will include a large cheese section, offering a wide assortment of domestic and imported cheeses, plus selections from Philabundance’s Abundantly Good cheese label that helps support dairy farmers in the commonwealth. Customers will also be able to receive food and wine pairing recommendations.
A full-service deli will offer the finest assortment of Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses along with an expanded selection of prepared foods and grab-and-go meals. The department includes a charcuterie station and a mozzarella station featuring cannoli and more from Spring Grove, Pennsylvania-based Caputo Brothers Creamery.
The new location also includes a GIANT Direct pickup station for orders placed online, offering an added convenience for the many shoppers who are looking to spend less time inside the store.
With its grand opening planned for Friday, March 19, GIANT will also announce a round of donations to nonprofits within the community. This is the fifth of the company’s locations to open in Philadelphia, bringing its total investment in the city to over $106 million.
Will we see this format spread into more markets? Deli Market News will report.
