Groceteria.com

Jakecreek wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 17:21 Regarding the Rockville Pike area Giant grocery stores--Giant Food's first store was in Congressional Plaza, opened in 1959. It was a small unit of that era and was eventually closed and razed during a shopping center remodel in the 90's. The Giant "department store", #69 opened in 1962 and was down the pike near Randolph Road. It had a grocery section and a step larger than Super Giant department store. (there were 4 department stores: Rockville, Hyattsville/Lanham, Bowie and the final one on Leesburg Pike in Tysons Corner). The department store portion of the Rockville store was sold in 1978 to Woolco, but the food store continued operating until 1983, when the chain opened a brand new and first "gourmet Giant", same location but opening on the side end facing Randolph Road. I opened with that store in November 1983, transferring from the Tuckerman Lane store in Potomac. The new Giant, store 175, was a huge success and was the highest volume store in the chain during the years I worked there, 1983-1987. Mr. Cohen was a frequent visitor during that time. Many Giant stores built after this one mirrored the large "gourmet" format. Back to the "Giant department stores"-- The Tysons Corner store opened in 1974 and closed with the others in 1978. It was only open for 3+ years.