Safeway Ctr./Broaldlands Blvd. Gripe

Here's another gripe with the shopping center that I haven't seen anyone raise yet. How about they cut into the center median on Broadlands Blvd. closer to Claiborne and make another turn lane into the center. Currently, the only way to get into there if you're coming from Claiborne is at the Demott/Broadlands intersection, yet there is a second entrance before that that you can only get to from eastbound on Broadlands. If they cut into that median there and made a turn lane/crossover it'd sure make pulling out of Demott onto Broadlands a LOT easier. Thoughts?

Here is a link to a picture of the area if you need a refresher. The area I'm talking about is where it says 'Broadlands Blvd.' on the image.

 

I share in your gripe brim. I was attempting to cross Broadlands Blvd @ Demott the other day and had to wait for a long line of cars to pass and was honked at and cussed at by the guy behind me. Having that additional turn lane would make pulling out of Demott MUCH easier!

 

We have a lot of traffic issues in our community. This is definitely one of them. I know that the HOA cannot solve these problems, but maybe it would be possible to get a group of interested homeowners together in an HOA-supported Traffic Committee to come up with an action plan for making our views and needs known.

 

I just drove by there on my lunch break and noticed that there is a storm drain in that center median almost directly in front of that other exit from the center. I can't imagine the red tape involved in getting that moved so they can put a passthrough in there.

 

First impression of Safeway.

For some reason I didn't like the layout. Nor did I get a feeling that this place was for me. Maybe it's because I've been so loyal to Giant Food. Store looks clean and everything. I hope it doesn't go out of business. Can someone chime in and tell me how the traffic is like inside the store on weekends? Busy or kinda like every time I go to Food Lion - not too busy.

Looking forward to checking out Wegmans. Heard good things from friends from NY.

-Teak

 

Every time I've been in there it's been pretty dead. I've never had to wait in line to checkout. On one hand, it's nice but on the other hand I hope they don't go out of buisness from lack of customers.

I don't know if I'm rich enough to shop at Wegmans on a weekly basis. I'll check it out, though. Anyone know when it's supposed to open? The website says 'Winter 2004'.

 

I heard that Wegman's is opening in February.

 

I'm finding myself opting to go to Safeway now more often than Giant as it is so much closer, more convenient and less waiting in line. I've found the activity in the store to be the same whether weekend or weekday. My only gripe about the Safeway layout is how some of the things are organized, for example, rice is located in three different areas! I'm the type that likes to memorize the layout of a store and then draft my list accordingly.

Too bad we don't have a Trader Vic's closer to us though.

 

Do you mean Trader Joe's?

 

Would love to see a Trader Joes here - (wouldn't mind a Trader Vic's either).
I went into Safeway the other night (Friday) and I think we were the only people in there, other than one other woman. It was wonderful. As others have stated I just hope it doesn't close down because of lack of business. They have a better organic section than other supermarkets in the area - at least the produce seems to be fresh - the organic apples are are really good. My sisters over from the UK are amazed that all the (non-organic) apples are huge and all the same size - and who polishes them all:? - what happens to the little apples. Aren't there any little apples left for little children?

jaeris

 

brim-
I can't say for sure, but I'm willing to bet that VDOT would not allow a turn-in so close to Claiborne. I would suggest you contact Saul and ask them. They may have an answer or maybe it's something they hadn't thought about.
teak-
Last weekend I stopped at the Giant to pick up some beer. Every check out line was backed up down the food aisles, including the express lanes. I left and stopped at Safeway. The place was empty.

 

I recently moved to the broadlans from Ashburn Farm. Befor ethat I lived in Ashburn Village. I can say that both giants have similar layouts (with which I was very familiar). I think it wuill just take a liitle time before I become accustom to the different layout in Safeway.

Another observation is simply the nmber of checkout aisle open. It seemed like Giant was always understaffed in this area. On a friday or saturday evening they would only have about 5 aisle open sometimes. I was in the safeway in the middle of a thursday afternoon. There was no where near the same number of perople shopping, but they had 6 lanes open.

Maybe it just seems emptier because people can get in and back out quicker.

As far as the idea to install another intersection into the shopping center. I woudl also like to see one, but the prposed position would place it too close to the Clairbourne/bradlads intersection and the existing entrance. It would probably make the traffic even worse.

It seems like the design of recent shopping centers is built around the idea of making them easy to get into, but difficult to exit. I only need to point to the Cascades/Target area and Reston/Best Buy areas as examples of bad traffic flow design.

 

Safeway definitely has much better organic choices than Giant, SFW, and FL. Also, Safeway carries a nice line of Boca and Morningstar Farms.(However, Harris Teeter outdoes everyone else, but it is in Reston.)

I think that Safeway seems emptier because the place is much more efficient. Still, though, it is not doing the business that Giant is. I have to admit it is awful far from the Farm and the Village!

Oh, over here in the U.S., we only like corporate-type apples -- big, fat, and cloned.

 

Mea Culpa...sure did! [:I]

 

I have to share my experience while I was shopping through the produce section...I about jumped out of my skin when I kept hearing these thunder and lightening sounds until I finally realized that these sounds automatically came on while the sprinkler system would automatically wash sections of the vegetables.

 

Carol: I wasn't expecting it either, and it scared the heck out of me. I thought that there was a storm outside! Now, though, I think that is the funniest feature! A grocery with a sense of humor -- now that is something I will support.

 

Exactly! It was hilarious!

Another comment on Safeway...I am very impressed with the service and "can-do" attitude. Last weekend I sent my husband out to get me some puff pastry. (okay...now how many guys here know what that is? Don't worry -- you're not alone; my husband had no clue either). He went to Safeway and after going up and down aisles with no luck, he finally approached a guy stocking shelves. This guy also had no clue what my husband was talking about but remarked to my husband... "obviously you must be on a mission for the wife and I know that we can't send you home empty-handed." He then went and asked someone else who in turn personally escorted both of them to the proper location as well as showing both of them exactly what my husband was shopping for. I don't know if we'd get the same reaction in Giant.

 

I love Trader Joe's.
I go to the one in Reston, or more often, the one in Fairfax off Pickett, near the ice rink
They always have interesting stuff and the people are consistantly helpful and pleasant.
I am tired of Giant. I hate the one in the Farm. The one in the Village is okay.
I never shop Giant anymore though.
The new Safeway is very nice but the prices are pretty high. Shoppers is dumpy but their prices are great so if there is something that looks decent I will buy it. I have not been to Food Lion in ages. With Shoppers and Food Lion you should check expiration dates on stuff. They have old stuff on the shelves from time to time.
I don't like spending a lot of money on food and things if I can get a good price somewhere. That way I don't feel so guilty spending $700 on new boots and blades... like, yesterday .

 

SK8R: Boots and blades? That could be hunting boots and new knives, or are you talking about skiing? =-)

 

um... ice skating, yeah.... hmmm.

My parents are from the Netherlands and live in Annapolis.
They have a Trader Joe's there and my parents love that store.
My dad mispronounces the name of the store all the time. He calls it "Trader's Joe"
It is really cute. He'll say "We picked up these cookies at Trader's Joe". I love it.