Countdown to Closing: 'Little Giant' at Bradlee, Giant at Beauregard, to Close Forever Thursday

What is it about a grocery store closing? How does a store come to be a place that prompts the lines from the old Cheers theme song: "Where everybody knows your name, and you're always glad you came."

Even if they didn't know your name, the friendly faces at Giant were a welcoming sight for many during a hectic day. For 59 years, the Giant grocery store at Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria —"the Little Giant" as it's often referred to by shoppers — was the "go-to" place for groceries for customers who lived across the street in Fairlington and surrounding areas.

After Thursday at 6 p.m., the store, along with the Giant at Beauregard Street in Alexandria, will close its doors forever. The Giant at Bradlee first opened its doors in 1954, as the anchor to the shopping center. The Beauregard store opened in 1973.

Nothing Fancy, but 'Just Right'

In an era of warehouse grocery stores, sky-high prices and over-the-top gourmet grocery shopping, the "Little Giant" at Bradlee was nothing fancy, but it was just about the right size for Fairlington, a community of 8,000 townhomes across the street.

At 21,000 square feet, the Giant store at Bradlee is one of the smallest in the store's chain, said Giant spokesman Jamie Miller. 

It's that smallness that many of its customers embraced—knowing just where to find the pickles, pies or hard-to-find items like French's fried onions for a green bean casserole.

Customers got to know the cashiers who worked there, and vice versa, asking about their children and circling their gas points before handing over a receipt; (all of the employees have been offered other positions at area Giants, mainly the Giant on Duke Street, according to Miller).

'Strictly Business'

Why is Giant closing the two Alexandria stores? It was strictly "a business decision," Miller said.

A stop at the two stores this week shows it's clear that the end is near—store employees have placed plastic purple bins across many of the empty shelves and there's a feeling of finality with some fixtures and signs inside already removed a few days before closing.

With the two stores shutting their doors, the nearby Safeway set to close some time this year for demolition and remodeling and Magruder's at Seminary Plaza closed, where can area shoppers go?

The nearest grocery stores are:

• Giant on Duke Street at Alexandria Commons (3131 Duke St.)
• Harris Teeter at Shirlington (4250 Campbell Ave.)
• Harris Teeter on Duke Street at Foxchase (4641 Duke St.)
• Whole Foods in Old Town (1700 Duke St.)
• Giant at Bailey's Crossroads (3480 S Jefferson St.)
• Trader Joe's at Bailey's Crossroads (5847 Leesburg Pike)
• Shoppers Food Warehouse at Landmark Plaza (6200 Little River Tpke.)

A farmers market is also set to open at the Landmark Mall parking lot, which itself is facing demolition and remodeling.

Read more about the grocery store changes this year in Alexandria:

• King Street Safeway Renovations Delayed
• Giant Expanding Duke Street Location
• Magruder's Closing All Locations
• Magruder’s: Visions for a (Temporary) Vacancy