Giant Food

Having worked in the area for years, I used to come to this Giant quite often. Although it’s a small store, I’m quite impressed by how well stocked they keep it. Even today I stopped in to pick up a few snacks ahead of the blizzard that’s expected this weekend and even though the place was a mob scene, they were constantly restocking the shelves and all checkout lanes were open and moving.
An added bonus is their location. Directly above the Van Ness Metro, if you need to pick something up while on the train, it doesn’t get any easier than to come to this location. As soon as you are above ground, the store is right at the metro. So all and all, I would recommend this Giant.

The customer service at this giant is extremely disappointing. I bought some mozzarella that was labeled for $ 5.99 and I was charged $ 6.99. When I asked about it, the cashier refused to reimburse me, she called the manager who also refused to reimburse the amount, explained the item was mislabeled and was very disrespectful in her demeanor, it was a very negative experience and reminds me why I always choose the self check out aisle.
There are a couple of staff by the fresh produce section who are extremely nice and I can tell are trying to improve the culture at this store but unfortunately, there are still a few that should not be working in customer service.

I have been shopping at this Giant for years. Love the bakery department here. There are varieties of bagels, breads, and yummy cakes. The only thing I don’t like is the self-​check out.

Do NOT go grocery shopping here.
I have now been three times. I have been overcharged three times. Every single time I point it out, and the check out employees stand there and stare blankly at me until I leave.
Twice now, I’ve had to go back to customer service to be reimbursed. The second time it was for $ 20+.
I’ll have to go back again tomorrow to be reimbursed for being overcharged again.
Seriously, the convenient location to the red line is not worth the hassle.

This grocery store works for getting groceries. It is by no means a wonderful shopping experience. The interactions I have had with employees have always been positive. The cashiers are always kind along with the delicatessen employees and customer service reps.
My only complaint is that the produce is not always of the highest quality.
I can usually get in and out fairly quickly. This is the closest grocer to my home, and I’ll stick with it.

This Giant seems like a standard supermarket, but the experience is almost always miserable. The entire staff is extremely rude, with some of the leadership being the worst. The main manager is very unhelpful and it is very clear that she is bothered when someone asks her for the slightest of help. Further another man (who I believe is an assistant manager) will not acknowledge you with words, and does very little when asked. The rest of the staff refuses to be helpful and spends the majority of their time talking to each other (all while ignoring customers). The store also relies almost exclusively on self checkouts, which creates huge lines and encourages the lack of customer service.
Apart from the horrible service, the food is sub par. The dry foods are standard selection, but the produce is often rotting in the middle of the store, which the staff ignores. I have also bought items that spoil the next day (although, I will say I have not had problems returning or exchanging). I often wonder how the store can leave out food that is clearly bad and not do anything about it. Further, the «everyday values» are few and far between, and often only include foods that look like they are about to spoil.
Overall, I would completely avoid this Giant. I know it is difficult when there is nothing else in the Van Ness area, but I believe it is worth the trip to look elsewhere.

Perhaps I am used to the service given at the suburbs, but having moved to the area just two months ago this Giant has to be one of the worse Supermarkets I have been able to encounter. Unfortunately, i do not have other options since the nearest competition is a mile away.
What I refer to is the service.
First of all, Giant seems to be the only supermarket with ONE full service lane. Personally, I don’t like self service lanes. Now, if prices would be lower than normal, I understand, but they aren’t. What you normally get at the register is a robotic, unpleasant, totally oblivious young lady who has not been trained into even saying Good Morning. I leave this place with a sense of «why am i spending money here?» I do not blame anyone else but corporate. Because it is their responsibility to make sure they train their employees properly, no matter what lack of manners they bring from home.
From my point of view, this Giant is A DISGRACE amd i resent having to go there.
Pity then that a Harris Teeter does not make it to DC to kill this outrageous (lack of good) service.

Horrible customer service! Deli people are always unhappy, unfriendly and you have to wait really long before someone pays attention to you. Same goes for the staff working at the customer service corner — often, they are outright rude. Just today I was ready to call the manager and complaint. Is it really so unpleasant to work here? If not for the proximity of the store to my house, I would have stopped shopping there by now.

Wow. So I hadn’t been back to Giant in awhile and the place was looking good! The staff were very quick and helpful. I think they must be staffing the A-​team these days! The new Safeway on Georgia is closer, but Giant at Van ness is keeping pace these days.

Do not overlook this giant! Van Ness has some terrible food options, Giant is a solid prospect if all you want is a salad for under 10 bucks. They do have beer and wine, since this location is in DC, and they have a nice selection of stuff for office workers needing random things.
Comb? Shoe polish? Nail clippers? Paring knife? Giant has you covered.

My go-​to grocery store for basic ingredients. The staff is always super helpful, nice, & efficient — even during the busy hours!

I come here because it’s convenient, but that’s the only reason.
I consistently come out of there in a worse mood than I entered (not great going in because, c’mon, who WANTS to go grocery shopping?) as the prices are no bargain (wow! I can get store brand couscous on sale for $ 1.99, the SAME price as the name brand!) This trend of store brand being the same price or more seems to be ongoing throughout the store, which is bizarre. And their produce is pretty terrible. They’ve got the most beaten down onions I’ve ever seen for sale, and their «green squash» (inexplicably the name for zucchini here) is the smallest, saddest zucchini in the world.
Speaking of saddest in the world, is it just me, or are the cashiers, management, stockers, etc, the most unhappy people ever? I’m no stranger to customer service-​oriented jobs (Panera, Office Depot, university textbook stores, bookstores) and no doubt they suck pretty hard when the customers are assholes, but I’m of the mind that if the customer is kind, nice, pleasant, patient and NOT a jerk, maybe they shouldn’t be treated that way? But apparently Giant doesn’t abide by such a policy, as I continually feel like the worst person for bothering to make anyone there do their jobs. If I take too long bagging MY OWN groceries, I get a look like I’m the worst, or the cashier just starts scanning the next persons stuff like I’d best be on my miserable way. I get it. Scanning groceries blows, I guess, but JESUS, if I could maybe be treated a bit less like I’m the scum of the earth, I’d appreciate it and maybe choose to shop here when I move far far away from this establishment.
In fact, if you’re nearby and looking for a place to NOT feel like you’re a jerk, I’d wholly recommend Brookville Supermarket down the street by the Cleveland Park Metro. A bit pricier, but you really do appreciate kindness after this Giant shopping experience, and the people there treat you like you’re people, which is nice after a long day of crappy work and necessary grocery shopping.

Giant Food in Van Ness is the closest grocery store option for me so I frequent it for basic grocery-​shopping needs. As other Unilocalers have mentioned, it is well-​lit and the aisles are fairly wide for a grocery store in the city.
When it comes to produce, the selection is definitely lacking, although all the produce we’ve purchased thus far has been of acceptable quality.
One complaint I have is that the aisles are marked somewhat poorly, and I have spent a lot of time looking for several different staple items on numerous occasions. Other cons about this grocery store would be that the service is sometimes less-​than friendly and that the frozen food section is only one aisle. We aren’t big on buying frozen foods so it’s not a huge deal, but for people that enjoy the convenience of frozen foods, I wouldn’t recommend doing your routine grocery shopping here.
Convenient location, even for people who don’t live within a couple blocks as this Giant is right by the Van Ness metro stop and a metrobus stop as well. Overall, a good grocery store option for the neighborhood.

This isn’t a bad groceries store but it isn’t the best. That is the best way to sum it up. I’ve been going to this store for the past year or so since I live within walking distance. It is very clean and the staff is extremely helpful but it’s one of those stores that always seems to be missing something on your grocery list. You know the feeling. You have about 10 items to get for tonight’s dinner and then your whole idea comes crashing down because you can’t find that one particular item. Ugh!
The prices are on par with other stores and the deli department is very friendly and pretty quick. Like I was saying before, every now and then when you want that one veggie or herb from the produce section, it won’t be there causing you to lose your mind and then storm out of the place to find another grocery store.
Parking here is great though because like most other grocery stores in the city, they have a parking garage in the basement that validates. The check out lines are plenty and they even have self checkout which is very quick.

Maybe its because I am new to the area, but the people that work at Giant have got to be the most unhappy and unfriendliest people ever. I have been to grocery stores around the world and this tops as the one with the most depressed staff. Is it because they are young and just miserable with life because they choose to work there for an income? Is it because they hate everyone that shops there? The only friendly person is the cop that sometimes hangs out in the store. Everyone else just makes the shopping experience sad. Maybe they should try smiling and be more upbeat. Is working there really that bad???

Supermarket is typical.

Open until midnight between Monday and Saturday, this Giant provides you with just what you need in terms of convenience.
What they do well:
1) The staff is very helpful and are always there to answer any questions.
2) They offer great deals throughout the week and have a wide variety of beers and wines available.
3) It might not count for much but they have a bathroom!
However, this Giant can certainly work on a few things:
1) I would bring a book if you ever plan on shopping during one of their peak hours. Between the regular checkout lines and the self checkout lines, I’ve never experienced a slower group of humans in my life. I don’t know if this is just something common to the people living in Van Ness but don’t expect to move very quickly during their peak hours.
2) They advertise the use of the Scan It! App throughout the store. This would be fine but it never works. When I first started using it, I would go through the entire process of scanning all my items and prepare to checkout only to find out I needed to rescan all those items because of a problem with the app. Now it just refuses to work at all. I know this has more to do with the developer but I would probably take down all the adverts.
3) Their appears to be a problem with keeping produce stocked past their expiration date. I’ve purchased a few items only to find out they expired a couple months ago.
4) Their organic section is relatively small. I suppose as it becomes more popular, they will continue to expand but for the time being it’s very limited.

All things considered, shopping at Giant is a relatively painless experience. The store is always well stocked. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The liquor selection is awesome!
Only two (very minor) issues: I wish they had more mid-​sized shopping carts. They have hand baskets, and giant carts, but I always have just a little too much for the latter and way too little for the former. They have half a dozen small carts, but I can never seem to find one. Also, the self-​checkouts are temperamental… but that’s just par for the course with those things.

A consistently good grocery experience. Of all the Giants in the area, I have to say this is my favorite, and I choose it over most other local grocery options.
The produce section always has fresh, high-​quality fruits and vegetables at great prices. The rest of the store is well-​stocked, and I can always pick up something I would not have been surprised to have to go elsewhere to find (drain-​o, birthday cards, toothbrushes, flowers, etc.) The deli counter and seafood and butcher departments are better than at most Giant locations.
Parking is conveniently located in a garage below the store, and is free with validation. The store is literally on top of the Van Ness — UDC metro stop, and is on the L1/​L2 bus lines.
Giant loses one star because there just never seem be enough employees ringing people up! Most of the lines are for self checkout, and when I do a week’s worth of grocery shopping, it takes me just sliiiightly under a week to ring myself up and pay… Other than that though, a quality grocery store, easily accessible by car or public transportation!

Nobody mans the customer service phones. Sort of bizarre to see a Giant exterior get blended into a corporate building format. Whatever, as long as I have my olive bar ($ 7.99/lb).
Produce section isn’t too ripe. Salad bar is pretty decent ($ 5.99/lb, multiple container size options). Things to skip: roasted red bell peppers, artichokes, beets, mysterious-​looking shell pasta salad in beige sauce. I love these three produce items a lot, but they tasted funky, and the peppers hadn’t been cut into easy strips.
Everything else I shoved into my lunch/​dinner salad was fine: spinach, romaine lettuce, organic greens, Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, potato salad, boiled egg halves, mozzarella balls, shredded cheddar, macaroni salad, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, blackberries, pineapple, diced ham, diced turkey, penne pasta salad, grilled chicken (bit dry), tuna, broccoli, cauliflower. I know, I’m excessive. Not sure how I refrained from shaking craisins and sunflower seeds over the top.
Some pre-​made hoagies and croissan-​wiches. Some sketchy slices of cake with enough icing to determine that they were selling 4^th of July cake on the 11^th of July. Too indifferent to stab the mute button on the self-​checkout window. A fruit fly or two buzzed around the dining tables near the door, but the actual salad bar seemed clear because of traffic.