The face of Bethesda is changing! The Safeway on Old Georgetown Road will close March 17, after more than 25 years in Bethesda. There is a significant sale of 50% off going on now!
The grocery store, near Woodmont Triangle, about two blocks from the Metro station, is closing because of underperformance, according to Safeway spokeswoman Stephanie Maxwell Ridore. Other Safeway locations—including another Bethesda store on Bradley Boulevard—will remain open.
Safeway opened at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in 1991, she said. The store fills 41,300 square feet.
The store employs about 59 people, and all jobs will be transferred to other Safeway locations, she said.
This is a major blow to the neighboring Bethesda Place apartments, as well as to residents of the Lionsgate and Christopher condos, and nearby Element 28 and Metropolitan Apartments. Safeway was the closest grocery store to all of those buildings, in terms of walking distance. Hopefully a new grocery store or Walmart Market can be brought in to fill the vacuum.
Bethesda is going through some changes with empty store fronts and more closings to come. Barnes and Noble has closed on Bethesda Avenue, a huge loss to the community, and Spring Mill Bakery is due to close in March too. Spring Mill is one of the few local bakeries that concentrates on breads rather than pastries and cookies.
Comments(8)