More than a thousand hungry people gathered at the Washington Convention Center this morning to eat and share memories during the 16th annual Safeway Feast of Sharing.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and D.C. Councilmembers Jack Evans, LaRuby May, Vincent Orange and Brandon Todd were in attendance to celebrate the event.
“I’m always happy to be here for the Feast of Sharing to celebrate and give thanks for all the many blessings we have in our great city,” Bowser said, addressing the crowd. “I want to thank you for all the trust in the faith that you’ve put in me to focus on the things that are important to Washington D.C.”
Those in attendance dined on a traditional meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls and other Thanksgiving trimmings and were served by hundreds of volunteers.
The former “Secret Safeway” at 20th and S Streets NW. It operated under Safeway’s Townhouse brand. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
The vacant space on 20th and S Streets NW, once occupied by a neighborhood Safeway store, has a new tenant: Glen’s Garden Market. According to a message posted on DupontForum on Tuesday, June 19, CityBiz Real Estate reported that the Chesapeake Bay-area store, specializing in local produce, meats, poultry and dairy products, will take over the lease. There is no word yet on when the store will open.
It’s been almost two years since the locally dubbed “Secret Safeway” closed its doors, making the Safeway store at 17th and Corcoran to closest grocery store for many area residents.
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From Mike Kohn. Got some news for Mike? Find him on Twitter @mike_kohn or drop him a line at [email protected].
By now, you’ve probably noticed the fun new addition to our local 17th Street Safeway — the receipt check that is required before you can exit the store. While we all had a sneaking suspicion what the root cause was, it took an inquiry from the ANC to get to the bottom it. As Washington City Paper reveals, this is an attempt to curb shoplifting from the store. According to Safeway spokesman Craig Muckle, this is something that’s being instituted in stores that have the bag fee (so, basically, around DC and in Baltimore City), mirroring similar attempts to prevent theft by Walmart and Costco.
Apparently, Safeway has noticed an uptick in people using bags to carry their items in a supposed attempt to avoid the bag tax and then casually sneak past the cashiers without paying. So it’s not that they care what you have in your bags, they just care that you paid, period.
If the comments from City Paper and the Dupont Forum on Yahoo! Groups are any indication, Safeway’s bag check has not been a particularly popular introduction. And that’s putting it lightly. People have pointed out that people were allowed to carry personal shopping bags before the bag tax was introduced, and are questioning what effect this will have. This comment was my personal favorite:
“… I don’t mind the check, but at my S/W, it causes a clustermess as people have to wait in line to exit the store while others are trying to get past said line to get in and grab a cart. Like salmon swimming upstream AND downstream through a very narrow river separated only by a median of cheap baked goods.”
So what say you, Borderstan? Impressed that Safeway is going out on a limb to prevent theft from its stores? Irritated that the new procedure is holding you up from doing better things? Indifferent to the introduction altogether? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
News from Dupont-Logan-U Street (mostly).
From Mike Kohn. Got some news for Mike? Drop him an email or find him on Twitter @mike_kohn.
More Mexico in our Midst?
Apparently the opening of El Centro DF wasn’t enough for our neighborhood. A tip from U Street Girl tells us that we’re soon to have a taco stand nearby at 9th and U Streets NW. Set to be called “El Rey,” expect a garden and a place large enough to hold about 150 people. Not a whole lot of news on the new place, but hey, having new restaurants seems like a good idea, sí?
Jury Deliberating for Dupont Trial
The jury will soon decide the fate of Jorida Davidson, who stands on trial after being accused of voluntary manslaughter as part of a hit-and-run. According to DCist, Davidson hit Kiela Ryan with her SUV in Dupont Circle and then fled the scene last October. Ryan had been celebrating her 25th birthday and was trying to get out of her own car when Davidson struck her. While prosecutors claim Davidson was just plain drunk, the defense holds that her post-traumatic stress disorder from growing up in war-torn Albania flared up just after hitting Ryan and caused her to run. We’ll see what the jury says about this one.
News from Dupont-Logan-U Street (mostly).
From Michelle Lancaster. Talk to me on Twitter @MichLancaster.
Duplex Diner Being Sold
The owner of the 18th and U Streets NW Duplex Diner has decided to sell this little slice of diner heaven. But don’t cry into your biscuits and gravy! He’s selling to longtime bartender, Kevin Lee, who will be briefly closing the doors to make some renovations. Check out the heartfelt announcement and the information about their renovation festivities going on June 20 to 27.
Waterfront Safeway, the Gay Slur and an Apology
DCist has the update on the saga of Waterfront Safeway’s handling of a cashier using a gay slur as customers checked out of the store. The cashier has now apologized, sort of. Can we all agree that if someone is demanding an apology, you should NOT say that, “I’m sorry if I offended you.” If people are writing about it this much, you clearly did offend them. What happened to just apologizing? And for that matter, what happened to basic decency and not resorting to hate and name calling? Also, Washington City Paper has more information and reports that Safeway says they have attempted to contact the couple directly to apologize to them.
The Safeway at 17th and Corcoran Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
The Safeway grocery store was robbed by two armed men on the afternoon of Friday, January 28, and police are looking for leads. Photos of the two suspects are in the flyer from DC police. There is a reward of up to $10,000.
According to MPD:
On Friday, January 28, 2011, at approximately 1:50 pm, an employee, was robbed at gunpoint and pistol whipped in the manager’s office of the Safeway Supermarket, located at 1701 Corcoran Street, NW. The first suspect is described as a black male, 35-40 years of age, 5’10” in height, with a heavy build, facial hair and dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a dark knit cap, dark jacket, dark pants, and was armed with a dark colored handgun. The second suspect is described as a black male, 35-40 years of age, 5’10” in height, with a heavy build, and dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a dark knit cap and dark clothing.
Special Agent Galactica (aka Jeffrey Johnson, above) will perform with Christopher Wingert in “The Only Gal in Town” on Friday at 8 pm at go mama go!, 1809 14th Street NW. Tickets available at ganymedearts.org for $10. Galactica is pictured here at the annual MidCity Business Association’s holiday party earlier this month at Local 16. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. Got a tip for Michelle? Send her an email.
Today is Dedicated to the Worker Bees Stuck in Offices
I know. Either you’re still off work and enjoying all that DC or the JFK terminal in New York has to offer, or you have just attempted to find the end of the Internet at work during the slowest week of the year. So if you notice that today’s issue is link-heavy, consider it our little present to our worker bees out there who are stuck in the office on the next to the last day of 2010.
BTW, we hope you enjoy the special Borderstan New Year banner at the top of the page, another creation of Neil MacLean. He was a U Street resident until he recently moved to Brooklyn (but still works with DC clients).
The Safeway at 17th and Corcoran NW. Another change is the addition of the Capital Bikeshare station in front of the store. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Temporary hours are 6 am to 10 pm. at the 17th Street Safeway. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Safeway on 17th Street NW is getting another renovation–and a 10 pm closing time from now until November.
Sources say that with the closing of the Express Safeway on 19th Street a couple of months ago, the store has seen its customer base grow– and demand better and different products. Shelves are being moved and certain products relocated.
But, here’s the big news:
- The produce section will expand.
- The deli area will have a hot-food bar.
- There will be self checkout lanes.
Capital Bikeshare Station at Store
A new addition to the sidewalk area in front of the 17th Street Safeway is the Capital Bikeshare station. The program rolled out across the DC metro area on September 20.
The Townhouse Safeway on 20th Street NW near Connecticut and Florida Avenues will close August 7. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Tom Hay
The word is out that the Safeway store at 1800 20th Street NW will be closing August 7. The location, north of Dupont Circle near the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenues, was one of Safeway’s “Townhouse” concept stores.
According to a Washington Business Journal story, the store’s lease was up and the landlord wanted a new tenant despite Safeway’s desire to stay. No word yet on what the plans are for the space. The other Dupont Circle Safeway located at 17th and Corcoran will remain open.
Washingtonians love giving nicknames to their Safeway stores. Locals often referred to the 20th Street location as the “Secret Safeway” due to its inconspicuous location on the ground floor of an office building. The 17th Street store has always been the “Soviet Safeway,” as it has sometimes has long checkout lines and understocked shelves on certain days of the week. The Georgetown store on Wisconsin Avenue earned the name “Social Safeway” years ago due to its well-to-do and high-profile shoppers.
