Safeway Outlines Washington-Area Expansion Plans

Safeway, the Pleasanton, CA-based grocery retailer, plans to expand its presence in the Washington metro area, The Washington Post reported.

The chain was once the undisputed local leader, but faces increased competition from food retailers that cater to the region’s changing demographics.

Tim Baker, Safeway’s vice president of real estate, told The Post: "There’s a lot more choices than there were seven years ago, and the quality has certainly improved with the Harris Teeters and Whole Foods and the Wegmans."

Safeway has two stores currently under construction—one in Wheaton, slated to open in October, and one in the Petworth area of Washington, DC, which is scheduled to open in summer 2014.

Additionally, there are plans to begin construction in the next 18 months on two stores in Prince George’s County—at the University Town Center in Hyattsville and on Route 301 in Upper Marlboro. Montgomery County will see a new store in Rockville at the Twinbrook Metro Station. The King Street location in Alexandria, VA will be rebuilt.

In the District, pre-planning for four stores is underway, The Post reported. Safeway would like to build a store on the former site of Walter Reed hospital on Georgia Avenue.

Read the full report in The Post.