By Kobe Cuprill
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
In recent years, Baltimore and the state of Maryland have seen an increase in the closure of supermarkets and small businesses. Many of these closures have been linked to financial struggles that supermarkets are facing across the country. They are a direct reflection of broader trends that are creating retail challenges for businesses, economic shifts, changing consumer behaviors, and overall inflation rising across the country.
Most notable among these closures have been the price-friendly Giant Food and Safeway supermarkets. As a result, residents are forced to either make longer commutes to other supermarket chains or pay for food deliveries. One of the recent foreclosures was the secluded Giant Food store located in Edmondson Village, Baltimore. This closing created a “food desert” leaving many residents to complain about the lack of reliable and nutritious foods easily accessible to its patrons. Now, many residents have longer commutes to supermarkets further away and that may not offer the same discounts and products. Giant also offered services beyond grocery shopping. For example, residents would use this Giant to purchase medication and other essentials, and for many, its location was within walking distance from their residential neighborhoods. Now taking into account the colder weather and the holiday season, this closure is even more of a loss to its community.
Five-year Edmondson Village resident Melissa Pierre shared, “The Giant Food was walking distance from my house and I don’t have a car at the moment to drive to these other grocery chains. It has made shopping for me so difficult that now I have to pay extra fees just for delivery.”
The other effect of these closures is the rapid surge of online grocery shopping which has swept the nation and now will be used even more in this community. This growing trend has contributed to the decline of foot traffic and the overall profitability of these supermarkets and the other businesses that remain in the area.
Melissa Pierre, also a resident of Edmondson Village shares this sentiment, “I was very shocked to hear that it closed as this is a very residential area and I’m truly disappointed as that is a key supermarket in the area. Having the Giant right there was very convenient. At this point it’s almost as if I have to go further to get what I need.”
Giant Food’s closure, in addition to the other supermarkets across the state, are a reflection of the economic changes the U.S. is facing. Inflation has led many consumers to reduce their spending leading to reduced profits for most of these businesses and many having to make the unfortunate decision to close. The loss of these businesses leads to the disruption in the livelihood of the employees, the local residents, and loyal shoppers. Empty lots now sit where thriving businesses once existed. In Edmondson Village where the Giant once served the community, only the local laundromat and a Boost Mobile remain, leaving many residents with nothing but frustration.
Walking distance from the Giant store to the “Best Market Walking distance from the Giant Store to“City Mart”
Edmondson Village is not the only location facing the challenges of store closings. Towson has seen numerous local restaurants close down with many other smaller businesses facing similar challenges. Many smaller businesses all over Maryland are at risk of closing. Big Lots has been reported to be closing 13 stores in Maryland and Virginia. They can no longer compete with the mega grocery chains, such as Safeway, Target, Walmart, etc. who have the ability to withstand economic challenges better than less known and funded brands.
“I feel a lot of people right now are trend followers because you see these big name stores people wanna go into, those stores are what good food is seen as,” – Former Safeway Supermarket Employee Brian Kang
Many college students are also finding it difficult with these smaller businesses closing down to get their daily essentials. Towson has seen a CVS close and seven different restaurants close in the past 3 years. Towson University student Zoe Termine said, “I have noticed they closed a lot of restaurants near the movie theater that I really enjoyed and I was upset about that.”
Finally, the closures of these key food markets and smaller businesses have left a lasting impact on multiple communities. Residents and daily shoppers are now having to change their shopping habits, showcasing the economic shift in the country, the devastation to consumers, and the empty lots left waiting to be occupied once better economic times reemerge.
2 Comments
Price friendly Giant and Safeway? Not in my hood
The closing in Edmonson Village has very little to do with the economy, and mostly to do with crime. Reports of violence and gunfire in the shopping center by city “youths” are a regular occurrence, along with shoplifting. In Towson, the Walmart closed because of rampant shoplifting. And the same residents who moved from the city into Towson bringing crime are also responsible for other closings. Daylight shootings and even daylight armed rapes in alleyways in Towson have made it a very dangerous place. Government overreach during Covid started the problems for the restaurants, but the spread of crime and violence from former city residents will turn Towson into a place where peaceful families and couples will be afraid to dine. Even Towsontown Center mall is a place I will NEVER visit again for fear of being accosted by roving gangs of violent and often armed “youths.” The Baltimore crime problem has infected Towson.