There’s a new grocery store in town, and it’s gorgeous!  

The long-awaited Super Giant grocery store in Loehmann’s Plaza opened last Thursday, and seems to be an instant success. The bright and airy building contains many “green” features that make it environmentally friendly, including a white membrane roof that reflects the sun’s rays and skylights that are engineered to capture sunlight and adjust interior lighting accordingly.

After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, I accompanied Jamie Miller, public affairs manager for the Stop and Shop Supermarket Company LLC which owns Giant, on a tour of the new store. New features include a hardcover book and DVD section and a com-puter screen in the deli department where you can enter your order, continue shopping, and come back later to pick it up. No more waiting in line! The store also sports a staffed seafood counter, a pharmacy, and a Starbucks, which was doing a lively business when I was there.

Long-time neighbors of the new Giant related that the shopping center has come full circle. When Loehmann’s was first built, I was told, there was a Kroger store on the site for a short time. Consumer’s Supermarket, owned by the Greenbelt Cooperative which also owned the SCAN furniture store, later served the community in that space. After Consumer’s left, the space was renovated into smaller retail units and, finally, torn down to make way for the new Super Giant. The Loehmann’s Giant is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., and on Sundays from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Welcome to a new business in Mason District!

Have you filed your taxes yet? AARP volunteers are providing free tax help to residents until April 15 at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale. Walk-in service is available on Mondays and Thursdays, 1-8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All returns are filed electronically. Items to bring include: last year’s tax return, a photo ID, and your Social Security card. For more information about AARP Tax-Aide, visit www.aarp.org/taxaide, or call 1-888-227-7669. This is a very popular free program, so be sure to allow yourself waiting time.

The Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) serves families in need throughout the Bailey’s Crossroads, Seven Corners, and Annandale areas. In addition to providing a child care center, a food pantry, and emergency rental assistance, ACCA volunteers also collect and deliver furniture to families in need. Items needed include single, double, and queen-size mattresses and box springs in good condition (no sofa sleepers), chests of drawers, dressers, kitchen or dining room tables and chairs. Please contact ACCA at 703/256-9513 to schedule a pick up of your gently used furniture.

The Mason District Spring Town Meeting will be held this Tuesday, March 25, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Lecture Hall of the new Glasgow Middle School, 4101 Fairfax Parkway, Alexandria. County Executive Tony Griffin will discuss his proposed county budget for FY 2009, and answer questions. See you Tuesday!

                                                                                                March 20, 2008