Will Bring Total to 7 Big Groceries in Little City
Notwithstanding all the new high-quality restaurants now or soon to be opening in the City of Falls Church, for folks who prefer to prepare their own meals, there soon will be no shortage (putting it mildly) of grocery options among the 14,500 (and growing fast) residents here either.
The latest announcement came just this week that a large new Fresh Market will fill the space in the massive new West Falls development at the corner of W. Broad and Haycock. It has long been known that the space was being held in reserve for a grocery, but no one was willing to say which one. That mystery is now solved.
The announcement came just as the signage was going up at the City-center Broad and Washington intersection for the new, massive area flagship Whole Foods and just a week after it was announced that a new Grocery Outlet store is going into the Target-vacated site on S. Washington. These are in addition to the new Harris Teeter on W. Broad (which has avoided getting renamed amid a shake up at that store’s Kroger parent company), the huge Fortune Supermarket catering to a Vietnamese-American market at the Eden Center, and, of course, the relentlessly successful Giant Food store.
It was not that long ago that the Giant was the only such store in Falls Church. Soon, it will be one of seven: Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Fortune, Grocery Outlet, Aldi, and Giant.
But none of this happens overnight. In fact, in the case of the Whole Foods store, the prospect was first floated over nine years ago (“HITT Broad/Washington Proposal is for Flagship Whole Foods Store,” was the headline in a May 2015 edition of the News-Press). Readers soon learned that the site-owner Todd Hitt was dealing in ponzi scheme activities and wound up in jail, which slowed up the process. But when the Insight group took over the property, it continued with the Whole Foods option, and that new developer has worked closely with the City to make it happen, generously offering a deal on 5,000 square feet of ground floor space for a relocated locally-based Creative Cauldron theater troupe.
The Insight team has scheduled a walk-through of its whole site, including all the new residential units, for City officials next week.
As for the Fresh Market, a specialty fresh food retailer, it’s making significant strides in its expansion plan with the announcement yesterday that it will move into Falls Church at the corner of W. Broad and Haycock as part of the Hoffman and Associates’ West Falls project. The Greensboro, N.C.-based retailer will locate an “upscale mixed-use project” at the site, expected to open in the next year.
“We’re very excited about expanding our presence in the Washington DC market and opening new stores in these beautiful, upscale mix-used developments of Reston Station and West Falls,” said Jason Potter, CEO of The Fresh Market. “We are confident that both locations will appeal to current and new guests of The Fresh Market. We pride ourselves in becoming part of the community and believe that people will embrace all that Reston Station and West Falls offer — residential and professional, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Located at the corner of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road, The Fresh Market’s new store at West Falls will occupy approximately 29,000 square feet on the ground floor of future residential space.
“Our team at Hoffman and Associates is proud to welcome a new community anchor to the West Falls neighborhood, The Fresh Market. The addition of this exceptional, fresh-focused grocer will complement the rest of the neighborhood, which boasts a wide collection of dining, educational, and wellness offerings, as well as cultural spaces, contemporary residences, senior living, a medical office, a hotel, and a central outdoor gathering space. The Fresh Market’s commitment to fostering local connections and bringing people together aligns perfectly with our vision for West Falls, and we look forward to welcoming them to the neighborhood,” said Jon McAvoy, chief investment officer at Hoffman and Associates.
The Fresh Market’s expansion into these high-traffic, transit-oriented developments highlight its commitment to growth and community integration, providing convenient access for Metro commuters and residents alike.
Voted as the “Best Grocery Store in America” by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2021, “America’s Best Customer Service 2021” by Newsweek and Statista and a top 5 most trusted grocery retail brand for specialty and natural/organic foods in the 2022 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, The Fresh Market helps guests discover the best with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients, and delicious food for any occasion. From fresh produce and exceptional meat and seafood to signature baked goods and thousands of organic options, the specialty grocer has something to please every palate. The Fresh Market currently operates 162 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence.