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Opening nears for second Giant Heirloom Market

Giant Food Stores readies urban retail concept for Philadelphia’s University City

Russell Redman

July 16, 2019

3 Min Read
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The photos show Giant's first Heirloom Market, in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of downtown Philadelphia.Photos: Giant Food Stores

Giant Food Stores next month plans to open the second of four Giant Heirloom Markets, its urban store format, planned for Philadelphia.

The new location, a 9,950 square-foot unit in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood, is scheduled to open its doors to the public on Aug. 2, Giant said Tuesday. Located at 3401 Chestnut St., the store is between Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania and near the area's hospitals.

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Much smaller than a conventional Giant supermarket, Heirloom Markets are designed to accommodate compact urban spaces and provide shopping experiences that cater to city dwellers, with products and services tailored to the surrounding community. Giant opened the first Heirloom Market, a 9,500-square-foot store, on Jan. 25 at 2303 Bainbridge St. in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of downtown Philadelphia.

Slated to open this fall is an Heirloom Market in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section, located at 1002 North Second St., across from Schmidt’s Commons, a popular pedestrian plaza with boutiques and restaurants. The fourth Heirloom Market, at 201 South St. in the Queen Village neighborhood, is due to open by the end of this year.

"The opening of our second Giant Heirloom Market store reaffirms Giant’s continued commitment not only to the Philadelphia region, but also to our strategic investment in the city's urban core," Giant Food Stores President Nicholas Bertram said in a statement. "We're thankful for the community's enthusiastic response to our first Giant Heirloom Market in Graduate Hospital and look forward to introducing this innovative design and concept to University City next month."

Related:Giant Heirloom Market to expand in Philadelphia

Like the first Heirloom Market, the University City store will offer a wide assortment of fresh, local and seasonal foods plus daily staples and natural/organic products from Nature’s Promise, a private brand from Giant’s parent Ahold Delhaize USA.

Customers also will find an array of grab-and-go meals and a curated selection of craft, imported and domestic beer and wines, complete with a rapid bottle chiller, enabling them to bring a bottle of wine home or head to a favorite BYOB destination. Giant noted that the neighborhood's students, faculty, administrators and hospital staff can eat a meal in the store's gathering space, which includes mobile device charging stations.
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Other features include a section for plant‐based foods; local artisanal breads; fresh-made sushi; kombucha on tap; a do‐it‐yourself olive oil and vinegar blending station; and a gourmet cheese section with pairing recommendations. Shoppers also will be able to taste new flavors at a sampling station and indulge in favorites from Philadelphia‐area food vendors such as High Street on Market, Claudio’s, Isgro Pastries and One Village Coffee, which will offer a grind-your-own-beans option.

Related:Giant/Martin’s expands e-commerce footprint

The Heirloom Market stores also cater to tech-savvy customers. Besides self checkout and mobile checkout with the Scan It! app, the locations include “endless aisle” service that allows shoppers who want an item unavailable in-store to order it online using an iPad and choose next-day pickup or delivery. Online grocery service is provided via Giant Direct Powered by Peapod, the retailer’s e-commerce arm. Online orders are held at proper temperatures until the customer arrives at the store for pickup or accepts delivery at their home or office. Giant added that the self-checkout stations are all named after local streets.

The University City store, to be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, will employ about 50 full- and part-time associates, Giant said. Angel Cordero, a 20-year grocery veteran, has been appointed store manager of the University City GIANT Heirloom Market. Cordero also managed the successful opening of the first GIANT Heirloom Market. His strong customer service orientation, knowledge and expertise make him a clear choice to lead this next store opening.

"University City is the perfect neighborhood to bring Giant Heirloom Market to — a vibrant, fast-paced community full of professionals and students looking for fresh, healthy, convenient food," according to store manager Angel Cordero, who managed the opening of the first Heirloom Market. "Just like Giant Heirloom Market, the University City community is a neighborhood bursting with creativity and innovation, making for the perfect pairing. We can't wait to open our doors and get to know our new neighbors."

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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