There’s just one full-service grocery store serving tens of thousands of residents in Ward 8, east of the Anacostia River — but some fear that Giant on Alabama Avenue SE might close.
The threat of closure looms over residents because Giant has repeatedly said that theft at the unprofitable store has made it challenging to operate. Already, Giant has reduced its offerings, removing brand-name products such as Tide laundry detergent and Dove soap from its shelves in order to deter people from stealing.
Giant will recover from losses; the company made a profit last year amid inflation. Meanwhile, a closure would hit the Ward 8 community hard, particularly those living in Congress Heights, Bellevue, and Washington Highlands. To get fresh fruit, vegetables, and canned goods, residents would have to travel farther – two miles to the Safeway in Naylor Gardens or even across state lines to Maryland.
Despite efforts by the D.C. government to expand access to grocery stores in underserved communities, Ward 8 has lost options. Good Food Market in Bellevue closed in November 2022. Capital Area Food Bank ended up selling fresh food from a grocery truck to meet the community’s needs.
A Giant spokesperson assured the public that the company does not plan to close the Ward 8 store in a statement to DCist/WAMU. But at the same time, they warned things have not gotten better: “The reality is that theft and violence at this store is significant, and getting worse, not better… We have...
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