Giant seems amendable to staying at Eagle Village site

What's the latest on the Giant in Eagle Village?

Date published: 10/23/2009

By Cathy Jett

WONDERING if the Giant in Eagle Village will ever get an update?

So was Jeff Rountree, chief executive officer of the University of Mary Washington Foundation and vice president of university advancement.

Talks with Giant Food, which has a long-term lease in Eagle Village, stalled over the summer--possibly, he suspected, because the Landover, Md.-based company was waiting to see if Eagle Village actually would be revamped and how the Wegmans opening last June would be received.

So last month Rountree sent a letter to Robin Michel, Giant Food's new executive vice president and general manager.

"I attempted to lay out how important the store is for thousands of shoppers in our community, both young and old alike, and how our friends and neighbors in this community really count on Giant to be their source of food and supplies," he said.

He said he also restated that the foundation will always want and need a grocery anchor in the former Park & Shop shopping center, which the foundation is turning into a pedestrian-friendly "village" with student housing, a parking garage, offices, restaurants and stand-alone shops.

"We would prefer to keep Giant, but only if they seriously work on the store's infrastructure, concept and consumer service," Rountree said. "Giant has some excellent models, both big and small, that could work well at our location."

Michel contacted him immediately, he said, and followed up with a series of discussions "in which she pledged her support to come up with a good plan for all parties involved."

Last week Michel dispatched two of her top officials for more talks and a tour of the site, where the first phase of the shopping center's renovation is under way. Rountree said indications are that Giant plans to keep its store in Eagle Village and will come up with a concept for the store there within six months.

"Although no commitments have been made by Giant, I get the sense that we are moving forward in a productive way, and I remain hopeful that exciting things are on the horizon for the Giant store at Eagle Village," he said.

What changes would you like to see at the Eagle Village store? Please send your suggestions to cjett@free lancestar.com or to Giant Food by going to the customer service tab at giantofmary land.com, then clicking on Contact Consumer Affairs.

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Date published: 10/23/2009