Harris Teeter May be Headed to Old Town Alexandria

A public meeting is scheduled at City Hall for residents and others to hear a plan to build a Harris Teeter grocery store and 175 rental apartments at 735 N. St. Asaph St.

Representatives of the developer, Buchanan Partners, and Harris Teeter will offer a presentation and field questions. The proposed Harris Teeter would be just down the street from grocery store Trader Joe's, which is located at 612 N. St. Asaph St.

Dirk Geratz, principal planner at the city's Planning and Zoning Department, said he couldn't speak for Harris Teeter, but as a planner he believes the two stores cater to a different market.

"People shop at Trader Joe's for different things, and the store has a particular niche. I think they will work together," he said, adding that he believes a new Harris Teeter would probably offer more competition to the Giant Food up the street.

Giant has been "planning for years to do improvements to their site but nothing has come formally forward," he said. "People have expressed an  interest for years to have an upgraded or new grocery store in that part of Old Town."

The new grocery store intends to include on-site a deli, small coffee shop and pharmacy, according to Geratz.

The grocery would be on street level with the parking for it in a two-level underground lot that would also serve the new residences at that location.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 5  at 7 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room on the first floor of City Hall.