The Rockville Wegmans hasn't even opened yet, and the competition is already starting to move out of town. Safeway at 1800 Rockville Pike is closing, and a closing sale is underway, according to a sign posted at the supermarket. That Safeway is only a couple of blocks south of the future Wegmans store, which is opening later this year at the new Twinbrook Quarter development. Don't expect massive savings, as the closing sale is currently touting only 30%-off "selected merchandise," meaning most of the store's inventory is likely to be transferred to other local Safeways or other Albertsons-owned stores.
This Safeway was so new that there is probably very little nostalgia about the store, compared to the Veirs Mill Road Twinbrook Safeway it replaced last decade. Not only is Wegmans roaring into town, but Montgomery County's crime wave that is entering its fifth year was often in evidence at this Safeway. A number of assaults were reported at the store each of the last few years, in addition to the rampant shoplifting that has plagued nearly all retail businesses in the county this decade.
When this store closes, there will be two Safeway stores left in Rockville, at the Rock Creek Village Center and at the King Farm Village Center. If you get your prescriptions filled at this store, your file will be transferred to the Rock Creek Village Center Safeway pharmacy at 5510 Norbeck Road.
Safeway at Fallsgrove is in Rockville, Rock Creek Village Center is not in Rockville.
ReplyDelete7:02: Correct on Fallsgrove; USPS begs to differ on Rock Creek Village Center.
DeleteWhy defer to USPS when the City of Rockville limits are determined by street sign color. If it's blue you are in, if it's green you are out. RCVC out.
Delete11:52: You are referring to the City of Rockville municipal boundaries. Rockville encompasses a larger area than just the City.
DeleteVery unusual to see a Safeway close. They're usually part of a community long term.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely makes the apartments above less desirable to lose a major chain.
In addition to this location and Twinbrook, the Loehmann's Plaza location also closed recently, not so unusual. Oh, don't forget the downtown Bethesda store.
DeleteWith “boosters” like Rockvillenights, who needs enemies, right? The closing before wegmans was the news. No need to point to the “crime” that happened at that store. wegmans coming in is the reason for that closing
ReplyDeleteFalls Grove vilage center also has a Safeway
ReplyDeleteEverytime I would walk into that Safeway the armed security guard would give me a really mean and aggressive look,but I was a paying customer who was there to purchase groceries. It turns out there were many assaults and constant theft at the store. So i wonder what the point of having these private security guards is.They don't seem to be able to do anything to stop the theft and assaults. It would be better to fund the actual Montgomery County police and have them start interacting with people on the street like they used to do.when the police have probable cause to search someone, that's a good thing, crime will decrease, and once word on the street spreads that the police are stopping people, the criminal element will start leaving their weapons at home because they don't want to get caught with them.make sense?
ReplyDeleteAbsolute NONSENSE. Don't give up your day job.
Delete" Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed carjacking Friday afternoon, December 27, 2024, near the Twinbrook Metro station. The carjacking was reported in a residential parking garage in the 1100 block of Higgins Place at 3:01 PM Friday. That is in the area of the Alaire apartments."
DeleteBlog post from Rockville nights, December, 2024
I doubt that Wegman's has as much to do with it closing as the fact that Safeway usually has the highest prices when the supermarkets are compared. I live in Twinbrook and have never been in the Pile store since there is also a Safeway in Kensington with surface parking which I prefer. I know I am not the only woman who dislikes garage parking especially if it is not well lit. People have their own shopping habits. Even though Wegman's will be a short distance from us I don't know how often we'll shop there rather than the Giant at Montrose Crossing, which has surface parking, as it all depends on whether the store carries what we buy. We checked out the Germantown store years ago and were not impressed as most of the meat, for example, seemed to be in large sizes than a family of two would want.
ReplyDeleteThe Safeway underground parking garage has the most well lit garage in the area. In fact, it's brighter than the open garage at Montgomery Mall, adjacent to the old Sears.
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