Giant Expanding Duke Street Location

The Giant grocery store at Alexandria Commons has renovations planned for later this year, company officials said.

“I can confirm that Giant does have plans to expand the Duke Street location later this year to better serve our Alexandria customers. We'll provide additional details as work commences on the project,” said Giant spokesperson Jamie Miller.

Representatives from Giant filed permits in January for $250,000 in renovations to the grocery store. The permit only indicates “interior remodel to existing grocery store Giant Foods # 261.” Permit fees totaled more than $3,400.

“We continually enhance our stores through remodeling and capital investment projects. There are a number of projects planned for 2013,” Miller said.

Rick’s Wine and Gourmet, next to Giant at 3117 Duke St., closed in December. It is not clear if any expansion of Giant would incorporate that vacant space.

Alexandria’s West End is seeing something of a grocery store upheaval this year.

Magruder’s on Kenmore Avenue closed in January, and its fate is still uncertain. It is possible another grocery store chain is purchasing Magruder’s, and a food store could reopen in the old Magruder’s store. (Read more about Magruder’s closing here.)

The Safeway on King Street near the Bradlee Shopping Center is closing soon for extensive construction. The store will become a two-story grocery store with increased amenities.