Giant Food — Local services in Potomac

Giant has been through some changes in ownership over the years this store has been open, and a once-great, locally owned store, that was responsive to its customers, has turned into a typical store run by a big corporation, not caring any more, moving away from service.

First, their response to customer inquiries and complaints has changed. In their glorious past, if you took the time to contact them they took your seriously and solved the problem. More recently, they would address it to the point of having a store manager at least respond (I had one apparently lie to me, but at least it was a response). Now, they won't even answer you. I guess that's the least costly way for them to deal with complaints! Unless you consider the thousands of dollars of my business that they've lost, along with who knows how many others.

I've been treated badly at the pharmacy. I've been given someone else's medication, I've had an incorrect pill count. Most recently, I checked in for a flu shot. It was mid afternoon. Several pharmacists were working. No one else was waiting for a prescription. I sat there for 20 minutes, even heard them discuss me--"Is there someone waiting for a flu shot?" "Yes there is." But the wait continued even then. Don't you think that a real, live customer waiting for service would be taken care of before whatever they were all doing? You're right, so do I. So I walked away, out of that store, and I'm not coming back.

I went to Harris Teeter and got my shot in five minutes. And they gave me a $5 coupon, too. Then I transferred my prescription to Harris Teeter and they gave me a $25 coupon.

I had a problem with a special request at Harris Teeter, so I went to their Web site and complained. The next day I got a phone call from the store director, the senior HT man at this store, telling me that he was not in the store when I made my request or it would have been resolved differently. He apologized and told me my request would be happily fulfilled the next time I was in the store. And it was.

The Potomac Giant no longer has meat cutters in the store. Harris Teeter has quite a meat department, and they'll custom cut whatever you want. And they have terrific BOGOs of meat like ribs and pork tenderloins.

So you can shop in Potomac Village at a Giant that's in steady decline, or you can shop up the street (yes, it's a drive) in Park Potomac at a first-rate store with a pharmacy open until 9 pm on a store that's...

I have been going to this store and pharmacy since it opened over 25yrs. ago. The pharmacy is the best out of all the other giants I have been to. I grew up locally and have been to several in the area. They’re extremely helpful and are looking out for my well-being. They’ve also helped me save money on my prescriptions. They’re kind, courteous, knowledgeable and professional. The store manager, Donna, is just as kind, courteous, knowledgeable and professional. If there is anything I need, I can always reach her or find a competent staffer to help me. They’ve bent over backwards in some cases to special order something that they either no longer carry or find at another store. From the florist to the produce to the deli to the meat/seafood to the people that are constantly stocking the shelves to the front office managers and to the gentlemen who help you get the groceries into your car, you can always see a smiling face and a helpful hand. I can’t say enough nice things about this...

BE AWARE!! Giant is selling rotten seafood and doing nothing about it! - I purchased some cocktail shrimp at this store and when I opened the bag at home an odor similar to a dead mouse filled my kitchen. Pretty much destroyed the evening and dinner. I took it back to the store and after asking to speak to the store manager, I was told many times that they had no manager in the premises. I let the only two checkout employees, who said they were in charge, to smell the shrimp and they agreed that the good was rotten and unsafe for consumption! - They tried to contact a manager but I was told that they could not locate anyone! - I recorded the incident and took some pics. Unfortunately pics can’t really capture his bad it was. Since there was no way to contact a store manager I will be reporting this to the county health and food safety...