Giant

Please update this edifice! This is like the first Giant ever made.

No. Just don’t. Drive to Alexandria if you have to (although you shouldn’t have to, there’s a Safeway right down Livingston). I seriously think it might be quicker (and 10,000x fresher) to plant and harvest your own vegetables than to shop/​check out here. Everyone else who has reviewed this place knows what’s up. I wonder why/​how there are constantly people patronizing this supermarket; parking lot always packed and the lines a thousand people deep. I wound up here once because I didn’t know better and another 2 times because it was the only local place that had my Rx in stock but I will never go back. Just awful.

It’s a neighborhood store tucked away in a mixed new and (mainly) old homes. The outside appearance garners the «gee, it could sure use some improvements» and the inside… well, it is what it is. Not much variety or quantity in the fresh fruits and vegetables section. They were out of cucumbers when I went but again, it is a small selection. Otherwise, the inventory was well-​stocked and truly I was surprised to see a bakery (I saw the big baking ovens) section but was a little puzzled that most of the baked goods were the name brand stuff and very little of in house pastries. I will have to say that the hot foods deli did impress me because the fried chicken, wings, and especially the fried fish looked very good and crispy. I’ll have to give it a try next time. Oh when checking out, there is no self-​service but there is an express lane which when I was there was not open. Overall a decent store and actually for me better than some other Giants in VA and I would go here again.

I have to agree with most of the other reviews. You have to be pretty desperate to go to this store, otherwise, do your best to manage your expectations. The employees are outwardly unhappy — that’s all the time. They are always out of stuff and there is an apparent resource issue. It’s sad it has to be like this as we are so close to the National Harbor. So much for improving Ft. Washington…

Corporate office needs to close this Giant down (especially since they’ve closed all of the stores it was connected to)! They never have what you need or want from one day to the next (If you want steak all out, you get ground beef, if you want turkey wings all out, you have to get chicken wings etc.). My husband and are so disgusted by this particular store. You’re better off going to the Giant on Allentown Road. It’s always well stocked, plenty of cashiers and they also have self-​check out lines.

I stopped shopping here years ago. I needed cash so I stopped into the store to use the ATM. Flash! I was immediately reminded why I don’t shop here. One word, GHETTO! The I saw mold on the produce, mold on the cheese. I brought this to the manager’s attention and he just hunched his shoulders. Well, no worries because I will never, ever step into this store again. The Giant on Telegraph Road in Alexandria is beautiful. They have fresh produce. No long lines. Guess that’s what happens if your customers are mostly white. You get better service and quality. It’s sad…

To put it bluntly this Giant pretty much sucks! I used to avoid this store at all cost and drive across the bridge to the «super» Wal-​Mart (sometimes Target) in Alexandria for most of my grocery shopping. The ONLY reason why I have been coming here lately is because Wal-​Mart has been going down hill, and it is a much shorter drive when I just need to grab a few items. But I think I need to start heading the other direction and go to either one of the Safeways in the area.
There are so many issues:
This store clearly has not been remolded since the 1980s, maybe longer! The shelving systems looks super old, you can see where the paint has chipped off, and the refrigeration stations in the produce and meat departs are «suspect». I am usually hesitant to buy any cold produce here because I swear their refrigeration stations do not work properly, everything always feels lukewarm, the greens look one minute away from turning brown. The meat doesn’t seem as bad, but you definitely have to take it straight home, no stops along the way!
The store is always understaffed during peek times in the evening and on the weekends. It’s pretty crazy, the lines are all the way down the aisles! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck in line behind some restless little kids driving their mother crazy because they’ve been standing in line for 15 minutes or more. Definitely do not come here if you have to bring a child (ren)!
There is a serious issue with the stocking here. They’re always sold out of things, especially if it happens to be on sale that week. The managers clearly aren’t anticipating their supply and demand needs. And, they must be keeping items on the shelf for longer than recommended. There have been several times when I have purchased crackers, chips or cookies here and they seemed stale.
In general, Giant (all of them) are expensive, this is the reason that I do most of my grocery shopping at other places. When I do shop here I only purchase items that are on sale with the «bonus card» or I am sure to use a coupon, at least they do double those.
Since this store is extremely close to me it’s serves it’s purpose to pick up a few things as needed but you’ll never find me filling up my cart here!

Avoid lunchtime — only a few tills open despite queues — and they DON’T sell alcohol?! :(
There’s really not much more to say about this grocery store other than it is functional, but it has zero added value over any nearby competitor.
I stopped by here yesterday June 16^th for an international calling card and some alcohol for the Germany v Portugal match, and to stock up ahead of the coming fixtures going into the weekend. I got a real shock to find out on arrival that this store does NOT sell a drop of alcohol. Not even wine. My jaw nearly hit the floor. An employee was quick to suggest I stop by the local liquor purveyor at the top of the road leading back onto Hwy 210 and Parker Road. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a grocery store that did not sell alcohol before — even the shite stuff — in any country I’ve lived in or travelled through.
Despite that huge disappointment, I needed to find my other item. I approached the customer service desk, but as I walked up the only lady behind the counter exited the little gate, and walked off without even bothering to advise whether she would be away from her till for a few moments or for an hour’s lunch. I suppose it was up for me to stand there and guess. She walked off muttering something, and I doubted it was «happy birthday.»
I then turned around, and asked an older chap who was scanning product by a display table between the customer service desk and the produce section, to point me in the direction of international calling cards. He looked very anxious, and said he had no idea whether the store stocked them or not.
I tried to get the attention of two other employees in the adjacent aisles, but they either knowingly ignored me or knowingly ignored me. So, I walked throughout the store for about ten minutes until I found an endcap by the frozen food section signed as «Gift Card Mall.» Not a great selection, and I ended up picking out the only international calling card that was on display. Away I went back up-​front to pay for it.
I noticed when I came in that there were long-​enough queues waiting for a cashier. By this stage the queues had gotten a little longer. Not wanting to stand behind locals and listen to either their crappy music or their swearing and moaning, I headed back to the customer service desk, hoping for a quick opportunity to pay and get the hell out of the store.
No such luck. The customer service lady was not back yet from her hiatus. I stood there like a big eejit for at least 5 – 6 minutes before a very poorly-​spoken, attitude-​heavy chap banged on a side-​door and literally yelled out to some other employee to stick her head out. She did, and they amused each other for about a minute or two before she told him to «get the fuck back to work». She then turned to me, smiled and asked if she could help me. I handed her the card, asked to pay for it, and she cheerfully sorted me out. We thanked each other, and that was it.
The place was miserable. The employees I saw throughout my visit didn’t seem to have an ounce of urgency about them, and if anything probably didn’t give two shites about it anyway.
This place did somewhat live up to it’s name — it certainly was a «Giant» let-​down.

Each time we’re in the store they are understaffed. When we call the employees either keep us on hold or hang up on us. I’ve been on hold for over 5 minutes waiting for the seafood dept. I’ve had issue after issue with this location. I even discussed it with the Customer Service Manager located inside the store and STILL no improvement. The level of customer service at this location is by far the worst of any other in the area. We will go to the one on Allentown Road going forward.

Walking into this giant is like taking a ride in Marty Mc’flys Dolerean and going back in time. This place hasn’t been updated since the early seventies. The selection of veggies is not that great, and the meat section is lacking. The customer service can be off on some days, they hire some really young people who could not care less. One reviewer said it was dangerous, it most definitely is not, no one wants you sweetheart lol. The lines do get really long here during peak times. However it’s close to my house. If I have time, I go down to the Safeway further down 210.

Sometimes the fresh veggies really aren’t that fresh. Sometimes during peak times, there are only about 2 – 3 registers open and the lines are extremely long. Sometimes the product selection isn’t that great and it’s over priced compared to other grocery stores. The parking lot isn’t that well lit in the evenings.
It’s close to my house and it’s open late so I go when I need to. BUT I typically drive a little further passed this Giant to the Safeway or way passed it to another Giant.
An update is long overdue.

I honestly can’t stand this Giant. When I was growing up this was the Giant that my family shopped in, and what’s sad is it looks exactly the same!!! You can look up at the picture above the produce and noticed how they have that faded 1980s styled print. Well that’s because it’s literally been up since the 80s!!! There is even more to this story though. This store is completely inadequate for the population in this area. Before the Giant in Manokeek was built, people from Accokeek, Fort Washington and Oxon Hill had to shop at this Giant. That has slightly changed of course with the Manokeek location being opened, but this Giant is way too small. I mean I’m talking about the carts have to placed by the entrance so if you try to get in and out, you often have to move to the side to let someone by otherwise there isn’t enough space for two carts to get through or sometimes for a person and a cart to go opposite directions.
But you know what really grinds my gears? How horribly managed this store is. I’ve gone to this store several times and found that only a few lines were open causing some of the lines to be backed up into the aisles. I went as far as filing a complaint with Giant about this store. The manager of the store contacted me back and explained to me that she had a hard time getting cashiers out and how she is hoping to get a re-​model of the store. I honestly don’t know if she deserves most of the blame or if the company as a whole should, but this store is unacceptable. Even last night I was there, almost a year after my complaint and once again the lines were in the aisle and only three were open, with no express lanes. What if someone just wants to come in to get something quick, should we be subjected to stand in line for 30 minutes? Why is this okay for a store to operate like this?
I think the issue is simple and it also relates to the Safeway in Fort Washington too, there is simply not enough competition around. These stores simply do not care about giving customers the highest quality service. They feel entitled to these customers because they know these are the only grocery stores in the general vicinity. I wonder how they will operate when the new Walmart opens up. Only time will tell, but for now, I would rather drive further to another Giant than to continue to support this horrible establishment.

It’s a functional grocery store. Really, that’s all I can say about it. The selection is poor (only a couple yogurt brands for full-​size tubs, seriously?) and the layout is cramped.

I always liked this Giant. It’s a nicely laid out grocery store that has everything you need. There’s a bakery, deli, pharmacy, seafood spot, florist and even a spot that sells okay soul food inside. It’s definitely a one stop shop with pretty high quality products. I even used to work at this Giant a long time ago. Its large so it can be hard to find things but usually someone on staff knows where it is. I usually get pretty nice service when I’m in here. I won’t give them 5 stars because they can get pricey especially without the card or any sales. And they don’t have as many health options as a whole foods but they definitely have more healthy options than shoppers or safeway. They also get points for having a Red Box.

Save yourselves! Run!
I’ve actually been followed (yes followed) to my car from the front door of this store. In good news, I was able to go back inside and get a security guard to walk with me to my car, but who needs that kind of stress at a grocery store?
The parking lot is poorly lit. There are loiterers and beggars from the front door to the end of the parking lot — and they’re the good guys! I’d actually pay a beggar to walk with me to my car, rather than confront what lies beyond.
As for the inside of the store, it’s dirty, messy, chaotic, poorly run, under-​stocked, employed by people who couldn’t possibly care less, and yet as expensive as the lovely Giant in Ackokeek. Why bother with this one? I’ll take the 15 min. drive up the street and go to Safeway, or the 25 min. drive up the road and go to the Giant in Ackokeek. Frankly, I’d rather cross the bridge and go to Whole Foods, or Trader Joes in Alexandria… or pretty much anywhere! I’d rather go hungry!
Go here and you are taking your life into your own hands. It is a truly dangerous place to be.
Avoid, avoid, avoid! I will never return.