Another Giant? Why?

Another Giant? Why?

That’s the question that many around town are asking after Giant announced last week it will be taking over the local Genuardi’s by the middle of the year.

Giant, a supermarket chain headquartered in Carlisle, plans to purchase 16 Genuardi’s stores in the Greater Philadelphia region, including the one in the Village at Newtown Shopping Center. The $106 million transaction also includes Genuardi’s stores in Langhorne, Jamison, Chalfont and West Chester.

The fact that Giant already operates 17 stores within a 10-mile radius of Newtown – one just two miles away from the current Genuardi's – has caused many to wonder why the supermarket is seeking to open even more locations in the area.

Based on the more than of the story, it seems many residents were hopeful a Whole Foods was preparing to occupy the space. But the Whole Foods rumor was just that – and now many are frustrated by they foresee will be a lack of grocery store variety in the area.

Some members of the community have speculated that perhaps the store will change hands again after the deal is completed. But that, according to Giant spokesman Christopher Brand, is simply not the case.

“We expect to operate all 16 stores as Giant food stores,” Brand said of the deal with Genuardi’s.

Based on the comments, it seems many residents were hopeful some variety would be coming to the area.

“Wegmans or Trader Joes or Whole Foods would be fantastic. Giant is very disappointing,” wrote one Patch user.

“I'd also prefer a Trader Joe's, Wegmanns or Whole Foods over Giant. Why would they want to have two stores about one mile apart? Makes no sense,” wrote another Patch user.

But Brand said it’s not uncommon for the supermarket chain to seek to operate several stores in one area.  “Our goal is always to provide stores and to grow our business to serve our customers,” he said. 

Giant recently completed a renovation of its store off the Newtown Bypass in the Summit Square Shopping Center and currently operates stores in Yardley, New Hope, Levittown, Southampton, Morrisville and more.

“Certainly it’s our aim to provide convenient locations for our customers because we represent what we believe is a one-stop shop,” Brand said.