January 28, 2019 – Giant Heirloom Market, the new store concept from Giant Food Stores with a format and assortment specifically designed for urban neighborhoods, opened last Friday in downtown Philadelphia. Located on Bainbridge Street in the Graduate Hospital area, the store is the result of over a year of meetings with local residents, market research and format exploration – including in the Netherlands – to create a grocery experience well suited for a city lifestyle.
"Just like all Philadelphians, we're passionate about our local food," said Store Manager Angel Cordero. “We're proud to partner with local purveyors. We're carrying products from High Street on Market, Isgro Pastries, One Village Coffee and Sarcone Bakery and everything is fresh and flavorful from our meats to our seafood and, of course, our produce."
Measuring about 9,500 square feet (883 square meters), Giant Heirloom Market offers a broad selection of fresh, high-quality seasonal foods and everyday essentials. An on-site produce chef prepares vegetables and fruit on request, and the store fosters exploration and encourages creativity in the kitchen through sampling and demonstration.
“There’s a ton of innovation that’s happening in the kitchen, deli and even in the pairings areas, some new cool things that we’re going to roll out to the rest of the company,” said Brand President Nicholas Bertram.
Director of Growth Initiatives Paul Madarieta, who led the team that developed Giant Heirloom Market, added, “I’m so proud of what the team was able to accomplish – it’s a very special day!”
Though Giant has had a presence in Philadelphia since 2011, the new concept is Giant Food Stores’ first location in the heart of the city, with more planned.
Friday’s opening kicked off with the ceremonial bread breaking of a giant loaf of ciabatta from High Street on Market – the store’s primary artisan bread purveyor – plus sampling stations for shoppers and remarks by Angel, Paul and city representatives. Giant also presented a check to Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization.
