The grocery store in University Mall set to reopen doors with upgraded additions
BY KEIRSTEN ROBINSON
The newly-renovated Giant Food grocery store in University Mall is reopening its doors since its closure over the summer for renovations.
Mason’s proximity to Giant and the large student population it serves were big influences for the new renovations for the store, according to Kathryn Kajfez, the associate account executive for Susan Davis International, the PR firm that represents Giant Food, in an email.
“Because it is so close to campus, we have made many additions that will help Mason students spend less time thinking about groceries and cooking and more time focused on school and extracurricular activities,” Kajfez said.
According to Giant’s announcement, the new store includes many attractions to pull college-aged students in, including a sushi bar and a Starbucks café with free Wi-Fi. The new store also has various new features, such as fresh-cut fruit and vegetable stations, a fresh orange juice maker and an expansive selection of prepared food and to-go items.
The new store is within walking distance of camous. The announcement added that the store also has a fully functioning pharmacy with prescription services and vaccinations offered. As an added incentive, Mason students will receive a 5 percent discount on all purchases from now until the end of February to celebrate the grand reopening.
Junior Molly Feser is excited about the new additions to Giant.
“It’s great for me, because I don’t have a car on campus, so it’s convenient for me to be able to walk across the street to get my groceries. It definitely relieves some of the pressure of feeling a need to bring my car to school with me,” Feser said.
Freshman Lindsay Walter is most excited about the prepared and to-go food section, because “as a heavily involved college student, it can sometimes be difficult to always have enough time to prepare and eat meals,” she said.
“I will probably start doing my shopping there, because they have a lot of the food options that I would normally go to Target for, but since it’s right there, it’s really convenient for me,” Walter said.
Sophomore Sophia Rizzo is happy to have a pharmacy so close to campus and plans to switch to the new Giant pharmacy from the CVS in Fairfax.
“Dealing with unreliable rides every time I needed to pick up a prescription was such a hassle, so I’m very excited for a closer pharmacy that I can access within just a few minutes whenever I need something, instead of having to wait sometimes days to find a ride,” Rizzo said.
The announcement said the grand reopening of Giant starts Thursday, Feb. 9, at 12 p.m,, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m.
